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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Risk factors and mortality in patients with nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
Fu-Der Wang1, Yin-Yin Chen, Te-Li Chen
1Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. fdwang@vghtpe.gov.tw
Background:
Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have become increasingly common in hospitals worldwide. S aureus continues to be a cause of nosocomial bacteremia.
Methods:
We analyzed the clinical significance (mortality) of MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S aureus bacteremia in a retrospective cohort study in a 2900-bed tertiary referral medical center. Survival and logistic regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors and prognostic factors of mortality.
Results:
During the 15-year period, 1148 patients were diagnosed with nosocomial S aureus bacteremia. After controlling potential risk factors for MRSA bacteremia on logistic regression analysis, service, admission days prior to bacteremia, age, mechanical ventilator, and central venous catheter (CVC) were independent risk factors for MRSA. The crude mortality rate of S aureus bacteremia was 44.1%. The difference between the mortality rates of MRSA (49.8%) and MSSA bacteremia (27.6%) was 22.2% (P < .001). Upon logistic regression analysis, the mortality with MRSA bacteremia was revealed to be 1.78 times higher than MSSA (P < .001). The other predicted prognostic factors included age, neoplasms, duration of hospital stay after bacteremia, presence of mechanical ventilator, and use of CVC.
Conclusions:
Resistance to methicillin was an important independent prognostic factor for patients with S aureus bacteremia.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia significantly increases mortality risk compared to methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA). Identifying risk factors like CVC use is crucial for managing these infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are a growing global healthcare concern.
- Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia remains a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical significance, specifically mortality, of MRSA versus methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) bacteremia.
- To identify independent risk and prognostic factors for mortality in S aureus bacteremia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study analyzing 1148 cases of nosocomial S aureus bacteremia over 15 years.
- Logistic regression and survival analyses were employed to assess mortality risk factors.
Main Results:
- MRSA bacteremia was associated with a significantly higher mortality rate (49.8%) compared to MSSA bacteremia (27.6%).
- Logistic regression revealed MRSA bacteremia mortality to be 1.78 times higher than MSSA (P < .001).
- Independent risk factors for MRSA included service type, prior admission days, age, mechanical ventilation, and central venous catheter (CVC) use.
Conclusions:
- Methicillin resistance is a critical independent prognostic factor in S aureus bacteremia.
- Factors such as advanced age, neoplasms, prolonged hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and CVC use also predict poorer outcomes.
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