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Computerized antibiogram for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in chest surgery
Background:
An increasing number of cases of postoperative morbidity involving methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have been reported in thoracic surgery. To prevent its outbreak, cluster analysis using a personal computer was employed.
Methods:
A total of 120 patients undergoing operations on the lung and mediastinum were included into this study. Materials were isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus newly recovered from across the hospital. The cluster analysis used antimicrobial susceptibility in 12 drugs, which were categorically valued to produce Euclidean distance to form clusters of similarity.
Results:
Six of the 120 patients were found to be positive for the microbe before or after thoracotomy. A total of two patients (1.7%) became symptomatic postoperatively, i.e., one of four preoperatively-positive patients and one of two postoperatively-positive cases. The analysis suggested that preoperative patients shared the strains in the same non-surgical ward.
Discussion:
A computerized antibiogram does not always strictly type Staphylococcal strains but has advantages in typing with ease and at decreased cost. The current analysis suggested that patient harboring the strains migrated across wards.
Conclusion:
Computerized antibiograms for Staphylococcal strains may assist to prevent an outbreak of their infection in chest surgery.
Insights
Computerized cluster analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains can help prevent outbreaks in thoracic surgery. This method aids in identifying patient migration patterns and reducing postoperative morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Medical Microbiology
- Computational Biology
Background:
- Rising cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) postoperative morbidity in thoracic surgery.
- Need for effective outbreak prevention strategies in surgical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of personal computer-based cluster analysis for MRSA outbreak prevention in thoracic surgery.
- To identify transmission patterns of MRSA in a hospital setting.
Main Methods:
- Cluster analysis of MRSA isolates from 120 thoracic surgery patients.
- Utilized antimicrobial susceptibility data for 12 drugs.
- Categorical valuation and Euclidean distance for similarity clustering.
Main Results:
- Six patients (5%) were positive for MRSA pre- or post-operation.
- Two patients (1.7%) developed symptomatic MRSA infection postoperatively.
- Analysis indicated preoperative MRSA patients shared strains within the same non-surgical ward.
Conclusions:
- Computerized antibiograms offer a cost-effective and efficient method for MRSA strain typing.
- Patient migration across wards likely contributed to MRSA strain dissemination.
- This approach can aid in preventing MRSA outbreaks in chest surgery.