Factors associated with initial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) and their recurrence have not been fully elucidated among HIV-infected persons.

We retrospectively evaluated a large cohort of HIV-infected patients from 1993 to 2010 for culture-proven MRSA SSTIs. Separate logistic regression models evaluated factors associated with initial and recurrent infections.

Of the 794 patients, 63 (8%) developed an initial infection (19.8 infections/1000 person years [PY]); risk factors included CD4 count <500 cells/mm³ and HIV RNA level ≥400 copies/mL (P < .01), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stage C versus A/B (P < .01), and injection drug use (IDU, P < .01). In all, 27% developed recurrence (206 infections/1000 PY); risk factors included hospital admission (P = .02). Minocycline for treatment of the initial infection was associated with an 80% decreased odds for recurrence (P = .03).

HIV control and avoidance of IDU may be useful in reducing rates of MRSA SSTIs among HIV-infected persons.