Nonimpact of Decolonization as an Adjunctive Measure to Contact Precautions for the Control of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Transmission in Acute Care

This was an observational study comparing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission with no decolonization of medical patients to required decolonization of all MRSA carriers during two consecutive periods: baseline with no decolonization of medical patients (16 months) and universal MRSA carrier decolonization (13 months). The setting was a one-hospital, 156-bed facility with 9,200 annual admissions. Regression models were used to compare rates of MRSA acquisition. The chi-square test was used to compare event frequencies. We used rates of MRSA clinical disease as an outcome monitor of the program. Analysis was done on 15,666 patients who had admission and discharge tests; 27.9% of inpatient days were occupied by a MRSA-positive patient (colonized patient-days) who received decolonization while hospitalized during the baseline period (this 27.9% represented those who had planned surgery) compared to 76.0% during the intervention period (P < 0.0001). The rate of MRSA transmission was 97 events (1.0%) for 9,415 admissions (2.0 transmission events/1,000 patient-days) during baseline and was 87 (1.4%) for 6,251 admissions (2.7 transmission events/1,000 patient-days) during intervention (P = 0.06; rate ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 1.00). The MRSA nosocomial clinical disease rate was 5.9 infections/10,000 patient-days in the baseline period and was 7.2 infections/10,000 patient-days for the intervention period (rate ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.45; P = 0.49). Decolonization of MRSA patients does not add benefit when contact precautions are used for patients colonized with MRSA in acute (hospital) care.     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): is there a need to change clinical practice?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism that causes significant mortality and morbidity especially to patients in critical care areas (CCAs). MRSA can (and does in some cases) also contribute to an increased length of hospital stay and higher health care costs. The literature proposes that routine screening of patients in CCAs is an effective strategy to control MRSA. Furthermore, placing patients in contact isolation until screening results are confirmed can prevent the spread of MRSA. The policies for management of MRSA patients and the incidence of MRSA infection vary widely. The preliminary findings from this review suggest that a uniform policy regarding routine screening and infection control management for all CCA patients should be recommended. A uniform policy has the potential to reduce rates of infection, cross-contamination and associated health costs attributed to MRSA management. However, further research is required before changes to infection control policy can be recommended. The outcomes from this review will be used to increase staff awareness of current infection control practices for MRSA patients in critical care areas and encourage further research.     

An investigation of MRSA infection in a hospice

This study investigated the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage and infection among patients admitted to a hospice. Under the existing policy at this hospice, only patients admitted from hospital wards where MRSA is known to be present are screened for MRSA prior to transfer. Hence the investigators were keen to study patients transferred from settings other than this. One hundred and twenty patients, all either from the community or from hospital wards without known MRSA, were entered into the study ('study group') and were swabbed for MRSA on admission to the hospice. Swabbing was continued at weekly intervals until discharge or death. Of the 120 patients, seven (5.8%) were MRSA positive on admission. A further four patients who were negative on admission showed MRSA on later swabs. Another two patients developed symptomatic infections during admission that were proven to be due to MRSA, but neither of these had shown MRSA on any swabs taken during the study. During the study period, a separate group of 156 patients was swabbed routinely before transfer from hospital wards where MRSA was known to be present in accordance with hospice policy ('non-study group'). Of these patients, 11 (7.1%) were found to be colonized with MRSA but none developed associated symptomatic infection. It appears that the risk of symptomatic infection with MRSA in hospice patients is low, and the burden placed on this vulnerable group by conventional eradication regimes may be disproportionate to any benefit derived.     

Rapid molecular detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a cost-effective tool for infection control in critical care?

Control strategies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in critical care remain debated. Timely detection of MRSA carriers is crucial to an effective isolation policy. In this issue, Harbarth and colleagues report rapid MRSA screening among intensive care unit-admitted patients using a PCR assay. Preemptive isolation for all admissions until screened negative for MRSA was associated with a reduction of intensive care unit-acquired MRSA infections in one of two study units. The data provide preliminary evidence to the effectiveness of a MRSA control strategy combining rapid screening by a molecular method and preventive isolation. Further controlled studies are needed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this intervention.     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): is there a need to change clinical practice?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism that causes significant mortality and morbidity especially to patients in critical care areas (CCAs). MRSA can (and does in some cases) also contribute to an increased length of hospital stay and higher health care costs. The literature proposes that routine screening of patients in CCAs is an effective strategy to control MRSA. Furthermore, placing patients in contact isolation until screening results are confirmed can prevent the spread of MRSA. The policies for management of MRSA patients and the incidence of MRSA infection vary widely. The preliminary findings from this review suggest that a uniform policy regarding routine screening and infection control management for all CCA patients should be recommended. A uniform policy has the potential to reduce rates of infection, cross-contamination and associated health costs attributed to MRSA management. However, further research is required before changes to infection control policy can be recommended. The outcomes from this review will be used to increase staff awareness of current infection control practices for MRSA patients in critical care areas and encourage further research.     

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Trial To Evaluate the Efficacy of Mupirocin for Eradicating Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Mupirocin has been widely used for the clearance of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage during outbreaks, but no placebo-controlled trial has evaluated its value for eradicating MRSA carriage at multiple body sites in settings where MRSA is not epidemic. In a 1,500-bed teaching hospital with endemic MRSA, 102 patients colonized with MRSA were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and treated with either mupirocin (group M) or placebo (group P) applied to the anterior nares for 5 days; both groups used chlorhexidine soap for body washing. Follow-up screening, susceptibility testing, and genotyping were performed to evaluate treatment success, mupirocin or chlorhexidine resistance, and exogenous recolonization. At baseline, MRSA carriage was 60% in the nares, 38% in the groin, and 62% in other sites (skin lesions, urine). The MRSA eradication rate (all body sites) was 25% in group M (12 of 48 patients), compared to 18% in group P (9 of 50 patients; relative risk [RR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 0.33 to 1.55). At the end of follow-up, 44% of patients (19 of 43) were free of nasal MRSA in group M, compared to 23% (11 of 44) in group P (RR, 0.57; CI95, 0.31 to 1.04). Ten patients developed MRSA infections (three in group M and seven in group P). One mupirocin treatment failure was due to exogenous MRSA recolonization. No MRSA isolate showed chlorhexidine resistance or high-level mupirocin resistance; however, we observed an association (P = 0.003) between low-level mupirocin resistance at study entry (prevalence, 23%) and subsequent treatment failure in both study arms. These results suggest that nasal mupirocin is only marginally effective in the eradication of multisite MRSA carriage in a setting where MRSA is endemic.     

医院与社区获得性感染耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌耐消毒剂基因初步研究

目的比较耐消毒剂基因在本地区医院与社区获得性感染耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌（MRSA）中的流行状态。方法从临床标本中分离出的MRSA菌株分为医院与社区获得性感染2组,用聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测耐消毒剂基因qacA/B,并对组间检出率进行比较。结果40株医院获得性感染MRSA中qacA/B阳性19株,20株社区获得性感染MRSA中qacA/B阳性2株,2组耐消毒剂基因的检出率分别为47.5%和10.0%,组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论医院获得性感染MRSA耐消毒剂基因的携带率高于社区获得性感染MRSA。     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in palliative care

Our objective was to assess the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in palliative care. The study was conducted at three hospices in south London, totalling 118 beds, and the following two methods were used. Firstly, a retrospective review of the notes of patients who were known to be MRSA positive at admission or were subsequently found to be MRSA positive was taken. Secondly, a prospective study of factors influencing bed occupancy in one hospice was conducted. The proportion of admissions who were MRSA positive ranged from 4% to 8% in the three hospices. Seven of the 43 patients who had MRSA suffered clinically significant infections. Risk factors for colonization and bacteraemia were similar to the general population. Sites of infection were variable and multiple and treatment regimes for eradication were variable, with varying outcomes. MRSA infection appeared to delay admission because of the need for single rooms, of which there are few Time spent cleaning rooms after discharge or death also reduced the number of available beds. It was concluded that MRSA infection is associated with significant morbidity in a small number of palliative care patients. Beds unavailable because of MRSA should be considered in bed occupancy figures, otherwise bed occupancy may appear artificially low. The psychological and financial impact of the infection in palliative care patients needs further evaluation.     

Oral fusidic acid fails to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and results in emergence of fusidic acid-resistant strains

Carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital constitute a reservoir of infections and increase the risk of bacteremia and wound infection. In this prospective randomized trial, we tested the effectiveness of oral fusidic acid for eradication of MRSA colonization. From March 1997 through February 1998, patients with MRSA colonization in medical intensive care units in a large urban teaching hospital were randomly assigned to receive fusidic acid 500 mg q8h orally for 7 days or no anti-staphylococcal treatment. Twenty-three MRSA carriers were found during the study period and 16 were eligible for evaluation; six of them received fusidic acid. MRSA colonization was cleared in only two of the six patients with fusidic acid treatment, and later recurred in one of them. MRSA disappeared for 1, 2, 7, 7, and 8 weeks, respectively, in five of the 10 patients without treatment. MRSA persisted in the other five cases. Although all MRSA isolates found in the initial surveillance culture were susceptible to fusidic acid (MIC /= 256 microg/mL). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis pattern analysis showed that the resistant strains were genetically identical to the susceptible strains isolated from the same patient before fusidic acid treatment, in both cases. However, genetically distinct strains colonized in the same individual during follow-up were found in four out of 16 cases. We conclude that oral fusidic acid alone is not suitable for eradication of MRSA colonization, and may lead to the emergence of resistant strains.     

Throat and rectal swabs may have an important role in MRSA screening of critically ill patients

OBJECTIVE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major problem in intensive care units (ICU). International guidelines recommend screening patients for MRSA on admission, although consensus on sites required for optimum detection has not been reached. Our aim was to determine whether throat and rectal swabs identified a significant number of additional MRSA-colonised patients not captured by swabbing at keratinized skin carriage sites (anterior nares, perineum and axillae). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: 30-Bed medical and surgical ICU in a tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS: One thousand four hundred and eighty adult patients consecutively admitted over 15 months. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Swabs from carriage sites (anterior nares, perineum, axillae, throat and rectum), wounds and clinical samples taken within 48 h of ICU admission were analysed to identify patients admitted with MRSA. A complete set of carriage swabs were received from 1,470 patients. 105 (7%) patients were admitted with MRSA of which 63 (60%) were detected by a pooled keratinized skin swab (anterior nares, perineum, axillae). A further 36 (34%) patients were detected only by throat or rectal swabs. Indeed, throat and rectal swabs combined had a higher sensitivity than pooled keratinised skin swabs (76 vs. 60% P = 0.0247). Swabs from all carriage sites together detected 95% (100) of MRSA positive patients, with five patients being positive at wound sites only. CONCLUSIONS: The throat and rectum are important and potentially hidden sites of MRSA carriage in critically ill patients. These findings prompt the need for larger studies to determine the most cost-effective screening strategy for MRSA detection. DESCRIPTOR: Non-pulmonary nosocomial infections.     

Large variation in MRSA policies,procedures and prevalence in English intensive care units: a questionnaire analysis

OBJECTIVE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major problem in intensive care units in most countries. Despite recommendations for screening and isolation of patients with MRSA our perception has been that there is little uniformity in approach in ICUs besides adherence to basic infection control procedures. We thus sought to identify MRSA prevalence and the variation of infection control policy across intensive care units in England. DESIGN AND SETTING: Postal questionnaire with telephone follow-up in English intensive care units. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 217 (96%) ICUs. Marked variation in practice was noted in terms of patient screening, staff screening, infection control procedures, isolation or cohorting of colonised/infected patients, and ward discharge policy. Point prevalence data showed that 16.2% of ICU patients were known to be colonised or infected with MRSA. There was a regional bias, but no difference was noted between high and low prevalence regions in terms of unit demographics or infection control policies. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the lack of consistent policy across English ICUs regarding isolation, screening and discharge practices for MRSA. Prospective studies are urgently needed to determine best practice.     

METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BACTERAEMIA AT A TERTIARY TEACHING HOSPITAL

SUMMARY Between July and December 1994, 25 patients with MRSA bacteraemia were treated at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur, a tertiary hospital in Malaysia with 3000 beds. The patients included 15 males and 10 females whose mean age was 46.7 years (range 13-75). The sources of their MRSA were: Urology/Nephrology, 11; General ICU, six; Orthopaedic, four; Medicine, three; Surgery, one. Their underlying diseases were: end-stage and chronic renal failure, 11; burns, three; acute necrotising pancreatitis, two; haematological malignancies, two; and one each of fracture of the neck of the femur, pustular psoriasis, alcoholic cirrhosis, liver abscess, peptic ulcer (antrectomy), choledochol cyst, and abdominal aneurysm with gangrene of the legs. Six patients were also diabetic. A total of 19 infections were considered nosocomial. The duration of hospital stay ranged from one to 60 days, mean 16 days. On the day of blood culture, 20 patients (80%) were febrile and 15 (60%) had leucocytosis. A total of 14 patients were considered to have received prolonged broad-spectrum antibiotics before the bacteraemia; of these, 11 had had either a third-generation cephalosporin and/or a quinolone. The primary foci of infection were: vascular access dialysis catheters, six; infected AV fistulae, three; non-surgical wounds, five; orthopaedic pin, one; multiple venous lines and catheters, nine; unknown, one. The sensitivities to anti-MRSA antibiotics were: vancomycin, 100%; fusidic acid, 96%; rifampicin, 96%; ciprofloxacin and perfloxacin 28% each. In all, 13 patients (52%) eventually died; nine of these deaths were directly attributed to MRSA bacteraemia. The microbiological eradication rate was 88%. Mortality was significantly associated with duration of hospital stay and failure to remove the infected catheters/peripheral lines after the development of MRSA bacteraemia.     

Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) shows that the 'Iberian' clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has spread to France and acquired reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin

Infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a serious problem, as these organisms are resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. Moreover, MRSA with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides (GISA) have emerged in recent years. In our hospital we were faced with an outbreak of GISA between January and March 2000, involving six patients who were free of MRSA when the GISA isolate emerged, and five of whom had not been given glycopeptides. The initial GISA isolate from the six patients was compared with six 'historical' multiple-resistant MRSA isolates (1996-1999), which had not been found to be GISA by the routinely used method. Antibiotic susceptibility was studied through the disc diffusion method, and MICs of glycopeptides were determined by Etest, agar and broth dilution techniques. Molecular strain typing was done by PFGE and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). All 12 isolates that belonged to the gentamicin-resistant group of MRSA were susceptible to vancomycin, but showed reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin through at least one MIC method. PFGE typing yielded five different but closely related profiles, and eight of the 12 clinical isolates were classified into a single PFGE type. MLST yielded an identical allelic profile for all 12 isolates, corresponding to the profile (3-3-1-12-4-4-16) of the 'Iberian' clone HPV107 of MRSA. MLST allowed us to confirm the presence of the 'Iberian' MRSA clone HPV107 with the same allelic profile in our hospital for several years. We can now note that strains of this clone have acquired reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin.     

Comprehensive drug screening in decision making of patients attending the emergency department for suspected drug overdose

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a comprehensive drug screening method as a first line diagnostic tool on clinical decision making in patients attending an emergency department for suspected drug overdose in terms of agreement between physicians on patients' disposal.

Methods: Five emergency physicians retrospectively evaluated the records of 142 adult patients, admitted to the emergency department of a community hospital for suspected drug overdose. They were asked for an expert opinion on patients' disposal at the end of the observation period, based on paired records, with/without the results of a comprehensive drug screening.

Results: In the absence of the drug screening, a very poor agreement (κ statistics) was observed between physicians. When the drug screening was available, the interobserver agreement for decision on patients' disposal increased to the fair to good range (global agreement: from 0.238 (0.019) to 0.461 (0.020) (mean(SE)); p<0.001). The agreement also increased when admission to an intensive care unit, to a general ward, and discharge from hospital were separately analysed. The availability of drug screening would have saved 21.7% of hospital admissions and 53.3% of high dependency and/or intensive care unit admissions.

Conclusion: Comprehensive drug screening adds to decision making for patients attending an emergency department for suspected drug overdose, improving agreement among physicians on patients' disposal and potentially saving hospital resources.

     

浙江省富阳区临床分离甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌的流行现状及耐药性分析

目的 分析浙江省富阳区临床分离的甲氧西林耐药金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的检出率、基因分型及药敏特征等流行现状。方法 收集2013年11月至2014年10月两家医院临床标本中分离的金黄色葡萄球菌,对其中经头孢西丁纸片表型筛选确认的44株MRSA进行应用多位点序列分型(multilocus sequence typing,MLST)、spa、SCCmec基因分型,筛查pvl基因,应用脉冲场凝胶电泳的分型图谱进行菌株间的同源性分析。同时应用16种抗菌药物进行药敏实验。结果 44株MRSA,占金黄色葡萄球菌的16.4%(44/268)。两家医院流行的主要克隆不同,富阳中医骨伤医院以ST59-t437-SCCmecⅣ型为主,菌株间同源程度低;人民医院以ST5-t311-SCCmecⅡ型为主,部分菌株间同源程度高。检出3株pvl阳性菌株,占6.8%。药敏结果表示MRSA对内酰胺类普遍耐药,红霉素、克林霉素的耐药率高(85.0%),未发现万古霉素、利奈唑胺、替加环素的耐药株。结论 富阳地区MRSA的检出率相对较低,流行以ST5-t311-SCCmecⅡ型为主,两家医院MRSA流行的主要克隆有较大差异。MRSA的耐药情况不容乐观,多重耐药现象严重,不同基因型别的菌株其药敏结果有差异。     

Regional audit: perioperative management of MRSA orthopaedic patients in the Oxford region

AIM: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation or infection is of particular importance in patients undergoing operations involving implantable materials, such as in orthopaedic surgery. An audit of the perioperative management of orthopaedic patients in the Oxford region was carried out to assess the level of clinician awareness and the uniformity of current guidelines between hospitals. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was designed for asking information on various aspects of perioperative management of MRSA patients and was sent to each hospital. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from nine of 10 hospitals in the region. The average response rate for each hospital was 75%, and the overall individual response rate was 67.5% (27/40). Seventy-eight per cent of respondents knew that there was a pre-admission screening policy. Fifteen per cent were unaware of any MRSA policy. Forty-four per cent indicated that teicoplanin was used for prophylaxis in implant surgery whilst 44% used vancomycin. Eighteen per cent believed that cefuroxime was used for prophylaxis. Forty-eight per cent of hospitals had an MRSA-free zone for orthopaedic patients. CONCLUSION: This study indicates a lack of uniformity in the perioperative management of MRSA-positive patients in the region and a lack of awareness of both MRSA guidelines and their implementation. Uniformity of MRSA guidelines is necessary to allow better clinician awareness and compliance, especially in surgical trainees who are travelling between different training hospitals in the region. Implementation of such a policy with re-audit of subsequent awareness and compliance is proposed.     

Intensive care unit length of stay: recent changes and future challenges

OBJECTIVE: To compare case-mix adjusted intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay for critically ill patients with a variety of medical and surgical diagnoses during a 5-yr interval. DESIGN: Nonrandomized cohort study. SETTING: A total of 42 ICUs at 40 US hospitals during 1988-1990 and 285 ICUs at 161 US hospitals during 1993-1996. PATIENTS: A total of 17,105 consecutive ICU admissions during 1988-1990 and 38,888 consecutive ICU admissions during 1993-1996. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We used patient demographic and clinical characteristics to compare observed and predicted ICU length of stay and hospital mortality. Outcomes for patients studied during 1993-1996 were predicted using multivariable models that were developed and cross-validated using the 1988-1990 database. The mean observed hospital length of stay decreased by 3 days (from 14.8 days during 1988-1990 to 11.8 days during 1993-1996), but the mean observed ICU length of stay remained similar (4.70 vs. 4.53 days). After adjusting for patient and institutional differences, the mean predicted 1993-1996 ICU stay was 4.64 days. Thus, the mean-adjusted ICU stay decreased by 0.11 days during this 5-yr interval (T-statistic, 4.35; p < .001). The adjusted mean ICU length of stay was not changed for patients with 49 (75%) of the 65 ICU admission diagnoses. In contrast, the mean observed hospital length of stay was significantly shorter for 47 (72%) of the 65 admission diagnoses, and no ICU admission diagnosis was associated with a longer hospital stay. Aggregate risk-adjusted hospital mortality during 1993-1996 (12.35%) was not significantly different during 1988-1990 (12.27%, p = .54). CONCLUSIONS: For patients admitted to ICUs, the pressures associated with a decrease in hospital length of stay do not seem to have influenced the duration of ICU stay. Because of the high cost of intensive care, reduction in ICU stay may become a target for future cost-cutting efforts.     

医院耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌感染现状的分析

目的了解耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)的医院感染现状,指导临床合理选用抗生素,预防爆发流行,为临床防治提供依据。方法对我院2007年1月-2008年12月期间,门诊和住院病人的标本中分离的179株金黄色葡萄球菌进行了MRSA感染监测,并对逐个暴露因素进行单因素卡方分析和Logistic多元回归分析筛选出MRSA感染的危险因素。结果 MRSA总分离率为70.9%,其中,2007年检出率为60%,2008年检出率为79%;MRSA感染部位以呼吸道为主,感染科室以神经外科I、CU科、普外科为主;住院时间、侵袭性操作、使用抗生素、合并感染、入住神经外科等5个因素与MRSA感染有关联。结论 MRSA的分离率呈逐年上升趋势,侵袭性操作、抗生素的使用和神经外科是MRSA感染的3个危险因素。     

Linezolid versus vancomycin for the treatment of infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Japan

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of linezolid and vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in Japan. METHODS: Patients with nosocomial pneumonia, complicated skin and soft-tissue infections or sepsis caused by MRSA were randomized to receive linezolid (600 mg every 12 h) or vancomycin (1 g every 12 h). RESULTS: One hundred patients received linezolid and 51 received vancomycin with outcomes evaluated at the end of therapy (EOT) and at the follow-up (FU), 7-14 days later. At EOT, clinical success rates in the MRSA microbiologically evaluable population were 62.9% and 50.0% for the linezolid and vancomycin groups, respectively; and microbiological eradication rates were 79.0% and 30.0% in the two groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). At FU, the clinical success rates were 36.7% for both groups and the microbiological eradication rates were 46.8% and 36.7%, respectively. Reversible anaemia (13%) and thrombocytopenia (19%) were reported more frequently in linezolid patients; laboratory analysis showed mild decrease in platelet counts with full recovery by FU. The mean platelet count in linezolid patients with thrombocytopenia was 101,000/mm(3). Significantly low platelet counts (<50,000/mm(3)) were observed more frequently in patients receiving vancomycin than in linezolid patients (6% versus 3%). Mean changes in haemoglobin levels between the two groups were not different. CONCLUSIONS: Linezolid is as effective as vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA infections and may be more effective than vancomycin in achieving microbiological eradication. Haematological adverse events were reported more frequently in linezolid-treated patients; analysis of laboratory data showed a mild reversible trend towards lower platelet counts.     

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization is not associated with higher rate of admission to pediatric intensive care unit

Purposes

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is consistently rising. The question whether the MRSA colonization places the patients at higher risk, requiring higher levels of care when being admitted, has never been studied. We conducted this study to determine the impact of MRSA colonization status on the required level of care upon admission to hospital.

Basic procedures

We conducted a retrospective chart review in 1000 plus–bed tertiary care academic institute. Our study population composed of all the patients who were admitted from January 2011 to March 2011. We found 7413 pediatric admissions that were identified as the study subjects. We assessed and divided study subjects into 2 groups, MRSA colonized and MRSA noncolonized. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus–colonized patients were further grouped into those admitted to either pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or ward, and these 2 groups were analyzed using P value, Fisher exact test, relative risks, and odds ratios.

Main findings

We found a total of 7413 admissions, 753 were admitted in PICU (average pediatric risk of mortality score 18), and 6660 were admitted in pediatric wards (average pediatric risk of mortality score, 5). We found that MRSA colonization was 20 (2.66%) of 753 in PICU admissions and 155 (2.33%) of 6660 in ward admissions. We found that rate of admissions difference between MRSA colonized and MRSA noncolonized groups was clinically insignificant (P > .05).

Principal conclusions

We conclude that MRSA colonization does not increase the need of care in PICU upon admission to hospital from emergency department. However, these preliminary results need to be confirmed through larger, multicenter, and multicountry data analysis.