Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Long-term outcomes following infection with meticillin-resistant or meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus
S Haessler1, T Mackenzie, K B Kirkland
1Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. sarah.haessler@bhs.org
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics in hospitals and the community. Long-term outcomes following susceptible and resistant SA infection have not been studied. We performed a retrospective matched pair analysis of all patients with positive culture for meticillin-resistant SA (MRSA) or meticillin-susceptible SA (MSSA) from any site to assess the outcomes of infection. Data were collected for length of hospitalisation and in-hospital mortality, as well as longer-term outcomes including all-cause mortality, number of rehospitalisations and subsequent cultures for SA during the year following infection. Twelve months after their initial SA infection, 42% of patients were dead. There were no differences between the groups in short-term mortality, length of hospitalisation, number of subsequent hospitalisations and cultures for SA during the year following infection. Following discharge, however, MRSA infection was associated with higher mortality than MSSA at three months (32% vs 18% P=0.02), six months (42% vs 22% P=0.002) and 12 months (51% vs 32% P=0.005). In conclusion, SA infection is associated with a high one-year all-cause mortality. Most deaths occur after discharge. The likelihood of dying during the year following infection is higher for patients with MRSA infection than for those with MSSA infection.
Insights
Staphylococcus aureus infection leads to high mortality, with most deaths occurring post-discharge. Meticillin-resistant SA (MRSA) infections show higher mortality rates than meticillin-susceptible SA (MSSA) infections one year after initial diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Increasing antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (SA), including meticillin-resistant SA (MRSA), poses a significant public health challenge.
- Limited understanding of long-term outcomes for patients with susceptible versus resistant SA infections.
- Need for comprehensive data on mortality and rehospitalization rates following SA infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of infections caused by meticillin-resistant SA (MRSA) and meticillin-susceptible SA (MSSA).
- To assess all-cause mortality, length of hospitalization, and rehospitalization rates in patients with SA infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective matched-pair analysis of patients with positive SA cultures (MRSA or MSSA) from any infection site.
- Data collection included length of hospitalization, in-hospital mortality, and one-year follow-up for all-cause mortality, rehospitalizations, and subsequent SA cultures.
- Comparison of outcomes between MRSA and MSSA infection groups.
Main Results:
- Overall one-year all-cause mortality following SA infection was 42%.
- No significant differences were observed in short-term mortality, length of hospitalization, or rehospitalization rates between MRSA and MSSA groups.
- MRSA infection was associated with significantly higher mortality rates at 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge compared to MSSA infection (e.g., 51% vs. 32% at 12 months, P=0.005).
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus aureus infection is linked to substantial one-year all-cause mortality, with a majority of deaths occurring after hospital discharge.
- MRSA infection presents a significantly higher mortality risk during the year following infection compared to MSSA infection.
- The findings underscore the critical need for effective management strategies for MRSA infections to improve long-term patient survival.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
01:29Staphylococcal Skin Infections
01:25Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
01:18Endocarditis III: Medical Management
01:28Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...