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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: March 28, 2017
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the significance of heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus
Sebastiaan J van Hal1, David L Paterson
1Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool BC, NSW, Sydney, Australia. Sebastian.vanHal@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Abstract:
The prevalence of heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) is 1.3% in published studies. Clinical associations include high-inoculum infections and glycopeptide failure, with hVISA infections associated with a 2.37-times-greater failure rate (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 3.67) compared to vancomycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) infections. Despite this, 30-day mortality rates were similar to those for VSSA infections (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.74). The optimal therapy for hVISA requires further study.
Insights
Heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) infections are linked to higher treatment failure rates. However, mortality rates for hVISA are similar to vancomycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) infections, indicating a need for further therapeutic research.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) poses a growing clinical challenge.
- Published prevalence of hVISA is approximately 1.3%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical associations and outcomes of hVISA infections.
- To compare treatment failure and mortality rates between hVISA and vancomycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) infections.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and meta-analysis of published studies on hVISA prevalence and outcomes.
- Statistical analysis of clinical data, including infection types and treatment responses.
Main Results:
- hVISA infections are associated with high-inoculum infections and increased glycopeptide treatment failure.
- The failure rate for hVISA infections was 2.37 times higher than for VSSA infections (95% CI, 1.53 to 3.67).
- No significant difference in 30-day mortality rates was observed between hVISA and VSSA infections (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.74).
Conclusions:
- hVISA infections present a significant risk for treatment failure, particularly with glycopeptide antibiotics.
- While mortality is not elevated, the increased failure rate underscores the need for optimized therapeutic strategies for hVISA.
- Further research is essential to determine the optimal treatment for hVISA infections.
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