Using MRSA Screening Tests To Predict Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

ABSTRACT: Bloodstream infections with Staphylococcus aureus are clinically significant and are often treated with empirical methicillin resistance (MRSA, methicillin-resistant S. aureus) coverage. However, vancomycin has associated harms. We hypothesized that MRSA screening correlated with resistance in S. aureus bacteremia and could help determine the requirement for empirical vancomycin therapy. We reviewed consecutive S. aureus bacteremias over a 5-year period at two tertiary care hospitals. MRSA colonization was evaluated in three ways: as tested within 30 days of bacteremia (30-day criterion), as tested within 30 days but accounting for any prior positive results (ever-positive criterion), or as tested in known-positive patients, with patients with unknown MRSA status being labeled negative (kn

SUBMITTER: Butler-Laporte G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5119028 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature