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Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in rheumatoid arthritis
Michael Sams1, Margaret A Olsen, Reeti Joshi
1Dupage Medical Group Rheumatology, Naperville, IL, USA.
Rheumatology International
|March 12, 2015
Summary
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) face higher infection risks. Central venous catheters and heart failure increase Staphylococcus aureus sepsis risk in RA patients, not disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Clinical Informatics
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients exhibit elevated susceptibility to infections.
- Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) sepsis poses a significant threat to RA patient health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the risk and identify risk factors for S. aureus sepsis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
- To investigate the association between S. aureus sepsis and mortality or hospitalization length in RA patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective nested case-control study using the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Medical Informatics database.
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for S. aureus sepsis.
- Extraction of data on diagnoses, treatments, hospitalization duration, and mortality.
Main Results:
- Indwelling central venous catheters (OR 15.97) and congestive heart failure (OR 2.89) were independently associated with increased S. aureus sepsis risk.
- S. aureus sepsis significantly increased 30-day (OR 7.37) and 1-year (OR 5.24) mortality and prolonged hospitalization.
- Treatment with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including biologics, was not associated with increased S. aureus sepsis risk or hospitalization length.
Conclusions:
- Indwelling central venous catheters and congestive heart failure are key risk factors for S. aureus sepsis in RA patients.
- S. aureus sepsis is linked to poorer outcomes, including higher mortality and longer hospital stays.
- Current RA treatments, including DMARDs and biologics, do not appear to elevate the risk of S. aureus sepsis.
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