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Updated: May 7, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
National burden of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, United States, 2011
Raymund Dantes1, Yi Mu, Ruth Belflower
1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Scientific Education and Professional Development Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia2Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Importance:
Estimating the US burden of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is important for planning and tracking success of prevention strategies.
Objective:
To describe updated national estimates and characteristics of health care- and community-associated invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in 2011.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
Active laboratory-based case finding identified MRSA cultures in 9 US metropolitan areas from 2005 through 2011. Invasive infections (MRSA cultured from normally sterile body sites) were classified as health care-associated community-onset (HACO) infections (cultured ≤ 3 days after admission and/or prior year dialysis, hospitalization, surgery, long-term care residence, or central vascular catheter presence ≤ 2 days before culture); hospital-onset infections (cultured >3 days after admission); or community-associated infections if no other criteria were met. National estimates were adjusted using US census and US Renal Data System data.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
National estimates of invasive HACO, hospital-onset, and community-associated MRSA infections using US census and US Renal Data System data as the denominator.
Results:
An estimated 80,461 (95% CI, 69,515-93,914) invasive MRSA infections occurred nationally in 2011. Of these, 48,353 (95% CI, 40,195-58,642) were HACO infections; 14,156 (95% CI, 10,096-20,440) were hospital-onset infections; and 16,560 (95% CI, 12,806-21,811) were community-associated infections. Since 2005, adjusted national estimated incidence rates decreased among HACO infections by 27.7% and hospital-onset infections decreased by 54.2%; community-associated infections decreased by only 5.0%. Among recently hospitalized community-onset (nondialysis) infections, 64% occurred 3 months or less after discharge, and 32% of these were admitted from long-term care facilities.
Conclusions And Relevance:
An estimated 30,800 fewer invasive MRSA infections occurred in the United States in 2011 compared with 2005; in 2011 fewer infections occurred among patients during hospitalization than among persons in the community without recent health care exposures. Effective strategies for preventing infections outside acute care settings will have the greatest impact on further reducing invasive MRSA infections nationally.
Insights
Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections decreased by an estimated 30,800 cases nationally between 2005 and 2011. Prevention strategies outside of hospitals are crucial for further reducing MRSA burden.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Estimating the national burden of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is vital for effective prevention strategies.
- Updated national estimates of invasive MRSA infections are needed to track progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide updated national estimates and characteristics of health care- and community-associated invasive MRSA infections in 2011.
- To analyze trends in invasive MRSA infections from 2005 to 2011.
Main Methods:
- Active laboratory-based case finding in 9 US metropolitan areas from 2005-2011.
- Classification of invasive MRSA infections into health care-associated community-onset (HACO), hospital-onset, and community-associated categories.
- National estimates adjusted using US census and US Renal Data System data.
Main Results:
- An estimated 80,461 invasive MRSA infections occurred nationally in 2011.
- Incidence rates decreased by 27.7% for HACO and 54.2% for hospital-onset MRSA infections since 2005.
- Community-associated MRSA infections decreased by only 5.0%, with a significant proportion linked to recent hospitalizations or long-term care facilities.
Conclusions:
- An estimated 30,800 fewer invasive MRSA infections occurred in the US in 2011 compared to 2005.
- Fewer infections occurred during hospitalization than in the community in 2011.
- Targeting prevention strategies outside acute care settings is essential for further national reduction of invasive MRSA infections.
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