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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Nasopharyngeal colonization with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and mortality among patients in an

Cristiane Ravagnani Fortaleza1, Edson Carvalho de Melo, Carlos Magno Castelo Branco Fortaleza

  • 1Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Brazil. crysravagnani@bol.com.br

Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem
|December 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is common in intensive care units but does not predict patient mortality. Severity of illness, not MRSA, is the key factor for prognosis in critically ill patients.

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Nasopharyngeal colonization with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent in critically ill patients.
  • The impact of MRSA colonization on patient outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between MRSA nasopharyngeal colonization and mortality in critically ill patients.
  • To identify factors influencing prognosis in the ICU setting.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study of 122 ICU patients.
  • Weekly screening for nasopharyngeal MRSA colonization.
  • Univariate and multivariable analyses of mortality predictors including illness severity, procedures, and MRSA colonization.

Main Results:

  • APACHE II score and lung disease were significantly associated with mortality.
  • Surgical procedures predicted favorable outcomes.
  • MRSA colonization was not a significant predictor of general mortality (OR=1.02) or infection-related mortality (OR=0.96).

Conclusions:

  • In critically ill patients, MRSA nasopharyngeal colonization is not independently associated with increased mortality.
  • Illness severity, rather than MRSA colonization alone, is the primary determinant of prognosis in the ICU.

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