Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Western Australian teaching hospitals, 1997-1999: Risk factors, outcomes and implications for management

The aim of this study was to document the evolution of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia at teaching hospitals in Perth, Western Australia (WA), and determine the risk factors and outcomes of the disease. We performed a retrospective case series analysis of all laboratory-confirmed episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia at Perth teaching hospitals between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 1999 by linking laboratory data with hospitalization data from the state's Hospital Morbidity Data System. Episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia were stratified according to methicillin susceptibility and the relationship between methicillin resistance and key factors or outcomes was determined. Almost 11% of episodes of S. aureus bacteraemia (55/509) were caused by MRSA. On age-adjusted multivariate analysis, Aboriginality (RR 6.71, 95% CI 3.20-14.10, P<0.001), geriatric unit admission (RR 5.74, 95% CI 2.01-16.37, P=0.001), female sex (RR 1.88, 95% CI 1.03-3.42, P=0.04) and healthcare-associated disease (RR 1.93, 95% CI 1.01-3.70, P=0.05) were independently associated with MRSA bacteraemia. Outcomes among those with MRSA bacteraemia included death in 15 patients and re-admission for an MRSA-related complication in five. Empirical use of vancomycin needs consideration in at-risk patients in whom Gram-positive bacteraemia is suspected clinically, with prompt review of therapy once antibiotic susceptibility results are known. The rates of re-admission after discharge for MRSA bacteraemia could be used as a clinical indicator to monitor the quality of care in hospitals.