Relationship between spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and antimicrobial use in a French

Arno A Muller1, Frédéric Mauny, Maud Bertin

  • 1Service d'Hygiène Hospitalière et d'Epidémiologie Moléculaire, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Minjoz, 25030 Besançon, France.

Insights

Antibiotic use in hospitals significantly increases the risk of acquiring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), independent of other factors. This highlights the need for antimicrobial stewardship to control MRSA spread.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
  • Previous studies identified colonization pressure, unit type, and workload as risk factors for MRSA acquisition.
  • The independent impact of antibiotic pressure on MRSA acquisition requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of antibiotic pressure on MRSA acquisition in a teaching hospital.
  • To determine if antibiotic use independently influences MRSA acquisition, beyond known risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • A 1-year prospective study was conducted in a teaching hospital.
  • MRSA acquisition incidence and antimicrobial use (daily defined doses) were recorded.
  • Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression analyses were employed to assess correlations.

Main Results:

  • The average MRSA acquisition rate was 0.31 cases per 1000 hospitalization days.
  • Antimicrobial use averaged 504.54 DDDs per 1000 hospitalization days.
  • Multivariate analysis confirmed that antimicrobial use was independently associated with MRSA acquisition incidence.

Conclusions:

  • Antibiotic pressure is a significant, independent risk factor for MRSA acquisition in teaching hospitals.
  • Findings underscore the importance of antimicrobial stewardship programs in reducing MRSA transmission.
  • Further research is needed to rank the impact of different antimicrobial classes on MRSA acquisition.

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