Hospitalizations and deaths caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, United States, 1999-2005

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), represent a significant burden of illness, mortality, and economic cost.
• Recent trends in the magnitude of S. aureus and MRSA hospitalizations have not been comprehensively reported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the annual number of hospitalizations and deaths attributed to S. aureus and MRSA infections in the United States.
• To analyze the trends of these infections from 1999 to 2005.

Main Methods:

• Utilized national hospitalization data.
• Incorporated national antimicrobial resistance data.
• Employed statistical analysis to estimate infection counts and trends over a defined period.

Main Results:

• S. aureus-related hospitalizations increased by 62% between 1999 and 2005, rising from 294,570 to 477,927.
• MRSA-related hospitalizations more than doubled during the same period, increasing from 127,036 to 278,203.
• These findings indicate a substantial rise in the burden of S. aureus and MRSA infections.

Conclusions:

• Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA infections pose a growing public health challenge.
• The escalating rates necessitate their consideration as a national priority for disease control efforts.
• Effective interventions are crucial to mitigate the impact of these infections.