Nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital: Risk factors, overall mortality and antimicrobial resistance

A retrospective study on risk factors of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia was carried out on 99 blood culture isolated episodes of S. aureus in a Brazilian hospital during 2000 2002”. We found several factors associated with an increased risk of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteremia including presence of two or more devices and use of antimicrobials. The patients with MRSA bacteremia were most likely to be in the surgical wards, but those with MSSA bacteremia were most likely to be in the internal medical ward. Overall mortality rate was 33.3%. Among 99 patients with episodes of S. aureus bacteremia, 25 died (25.3%) within 15 days of onset. Our research shows that MRSA bacteremia was more likely to be associated with extrinsic factors.