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Updated: Aug 11, 2025
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Increase in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in Switzerland: a nationwide
Luzia Renggli1,2, Michael Gasser3, Niccolò Buetti4,5
1Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance (ANRESIS), Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. luzia.renggli@unibe.ch.
Purpose:
An increasing burden of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (BSI), despite a decrease in the percentage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), was described recently in other European countries. The main aim of this study was to analyse recent temporal trends of S. aureus, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA BSI for Switzerland as well as the different linguistic regions within Switzerland. An additional aim was to estimate potential differences among patient-based and epidemiological risk factors.
Methods:
A retrospective observational study was conducted in Switzerland over a period of 14 years (2008-2021). Trends in S. aureus, MSSA and MRSA BSI were analysed by applying linear regression models.
Results:
Staphylococcus aureus BSI increased by + 30% from 19.7 to 25.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants between 2008 and 2021 (P < 0.01) in Switzerland. Thereof, MSSA increased by + 37% from 17.8 to 24.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (P < 0.01). MRSA decreased from 1.9 to 1.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (P < 0.01), which was driven by decreasing incidence in the French-speaking region. MSSA BSI increased significantly (P < 0.01) in both linguistic regions. A further stratification revealed that incidence increased the most in male patients of the age group ≥ 80 years of the German-speaking region.
Conclusion:
The increasing health burden of MSSA BSI in Switzerland indicates that not only proportions of resistant microorganisms but also total BSI incidences should be monitored. In addition, data stratification revealed that the increase was mainly driven by an increasing incidence in elderly males of the German-speaking region.
Insights
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (BSI) rose 30% in Switzerland, driven by a 37% increase in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) BSI, particularly among elderly males in the German-speaking region.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Global rise in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (BSI).
- Decreasing percentage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in some European regions.
- Need to monitor total BSI incidence alongside antimicrobial resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze temporal trends of S. aureus, MSSA, and MRSA BSI in Switzerland.
- Investigate trends across different linguistic regions within Switzerland.
- Identify patient-based and epidemiological risk factors for BSI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational study design.
- Data collected over a 14-year period (2008-2021).
- Linear regression models used to analyze BSI trends.
Main Results:
- Overall S. aureus BSI increased by 30% (19.7 to 25.6 cases/100,000).
- MSSA BSI increased by 37% (17.8 to 24.4 cases/100,000).
- MRSA BSI decreased by 32% (1.9 to 1.2 cases/100,000), primarily in the French-speaking region.
- Incidence of MSSA BSI rose significantly in both linguistic regions.
- Highest increase in MSSA BSI observed in males aged ≥80 years in the German-speaking region.
Conclusions:
- Increasing MSSA BSI burden necessitates monitoring total BSI incidence.
- Focus on MSSA BSI trends is crucial, not just resistant strains.
- Elderly males in the German-speaking region are a key demographic for rising MSSA BSI.
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