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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Is there a higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant
Weyman Lam1, Mary L Staicu2, Kelly M Conn3
1Warren Clinic, Saint Francis Health System, Tulsa, OK.
Background:
A penicillin allergy label has been associated with significantly higher rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization, and correspondingly poorer clinical outcomes. However, there are limited data examining the association between any antibiotic label and colonization rates. We sought to evaluate if there is a relationship between patients with an antibiotic allergy label and prevalence of MRSA or VRE colonization.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed all patients with an MRSA surveillance culture between December 15, 2014 and January 31, 2015, or a VRE surveillance culture between January 1, 2013 and January 31, 2015, at a tertiary community-based teaching hospital. Our primary objective was to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA or VRE colonization among patients with and without antibiotic allergies. Bivariate analyses included the χ² test and the Student t test to determine statistical significance for categorical and continuous variables, respectively.
Results:
We included a total of 1,053 unique patients screened for MRSA, and 290 unique patients screened for VRE. The rate of MRSA and VRE colonization was 5.8% (62 of 1,053) and 32.4% (94 of 290), respectively, in our cohort. Antibiotic allergies were documented in approximately 1 out of 3 patients, 337 (32%) for the MRSA group and 94 (32%) for VRE group. There was a significant difference in MRSA colonization between patients with and without an antibiotic allergy, 28 of 337 (8.3%) versus 34 of 716 (4.7%) (P = .025), respectively. In contrast, there was no significant difference in antibiotic allergy rates with and without VRE colonization, 34 of 94 (36.2%) versus 92 of 196 (46.9%) (P = .10), respectively.
Conclusions:
An antibiotic allergy label was associated with significantly higher rates of MRSA colonization but no statistical difference with VRE colonization.
Insights
An antibiotic allergy label is linked to increased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization. However, this association was not found for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization in the study population.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Penicillin allergy labels are associated with higher rates of MRSA and VRE colonization.
- Limited data exist on the association between any antibiotic label and colonization rates.
- This study investigates the link between antibiotic allergy labels and MRSA/VRE colonization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of MRSA or VRE colonization in patients with and without antibiotic allergies.
- To determine if an antibiotic allergy label is a risk factor for MRSA or VRE colonization.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of patients screened for MRSA or VRE.
- Data collected from December 2014 to January 2015 (MRSA) and January 2013 to January 2015 (VRE).
- Bivariate analyses using chi-squared and Student t-tests to assess statistical significance.
Main Results:
- MRSA colonization rate was 5.8% and VRE colonization rate was 32.4%.
- Patients with an antibiotic allergy had significantly higher MRSA colonization rates (8.3% vs. 4.7%, P=.025).
- No significant difference in antibiotic allergy rates was observed for VRE colonization (36.2% vs. 46.9%, P=.10).
Conclusions:
- An antibiotic allergy label is associated with significantly higher rates of MRSA colonization.
- No statistical difference in VRE colonization was found between patients with and without antibiotic allergies.
- The findings suggest a specific association between antibiotic allergy labels and MRSA colonization.
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