Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Iceland, 1995-2008: changing incidence and mortality

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Temporal changes in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia epidemiology are not well understood.
• Understanding incidence and mortality trends is crucial for public health strategies.
• Icelandic national data provides a unique opportunity to study these epidemiological shifts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze temporal changes in the incidence and mortality of adult Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Iceland.
• To categorize infection sources (nosocomial, healthcare-associated, community-acquired) and track their trends.
• To assess the impact of these epidemiological changes on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adult S. aureus bacteraemia cases from 1995-2008.
• Inclusion of data from all Icelandic clinical microbiology laboratories performing blood cultures.
• Utilized national registry data for population statistics and mortality information.

Main Results:

• S. aureus bacteraemia incidence increased from 22.7 to 28.9 per 100,000 annually (p=0.012).
• Proportion of nosocomial infections decreased, while community-acquired infections increased (p<0.001).
• All-cause 30-day mortality significantly decreased from 25.0% to 8.1% (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• Significant increase in S. aureus bacteraemia incidence observed in Iceland between 1995 and 2008.
• Concomitant significant reduction in mortality rates, approaching historically low levels.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the factors contributing to these epidemiological trends and improved outcomes.