Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia cases at Helen Joseph Hospital

Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is associated with a high mortality. Data on SAB cases in South Africa (SA) are limited.

This study aimed to establish the demographic profile, risk factors and complications of patients with SAB in a tertiary inpatient setting.

We conducted a retrospective record review of inpatients above the age of 13 with SAB from October 2015 to November 2022 at Helen Jospeh Hospital (HJH) in Gauteng, SA.

A total of 126 patients with SAB were reviewed. The case fatality ratio among these patients was 20.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.9-28.8); this was similar for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (p = 0.154). Almost half (49.2%) were community acquired, and these were chiefly associated with skin and soft tissue infections (45.2%), while most healthcare-associated community-acquired infections (18.3%) and nosocomial-related infections (32.5%) were associated with short-term venous catheterisation (40.6%). The most common risk factors for acquiring a SAB were prior hospitalisation in the last 90 days (27.8%), the presence of an invasive device (26.2%) and receipt of haemodialysis (15.1%). Having hypertension (adjusted odds ratio: 5.55 [95% CI: 1.31-23.55]) and being recently hospitalised (adjusted odds ratio: 11.88 [95% CI: 1.84-26.99]) were associated with statistically significant increased odds of death.

SAB-associated all-cause mortality remains high in a middle-income tertiary hospital setting, albeit with a case fatality ratio comparable to that seen in high-income countries.

Our study suggests that acceptable outcomes are achievable in tertiary middle-income settings provided there is access to resources including infectious diseases consultation, echocardiograms and basic infection control practices.