An outbreak of infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides. I. Clinical studies.
In a 22-month period, strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and multiple aminoglycosides, (designated MARS) were recovered from 108 inpatients with nosocomial infections at a hospital in the midwestern United States. Sixty-six of these patients were staying in a burn unit, and 42 were on other hospital wards. Among the patients with burns, MARS were recovered from the burn wounds of 64%; 32% of the patients with burns had MARS bacteremia. The patients without burns were age-matched with patients with nosocomial infections caused by antibiotic-susceptible strains of S. aureus. Patients from whom MARS were isolated had a longer mean hospital stay (79.6 days vs. 36.9 days; P less than 0.01), developed infection later (26.5 days vs. 13.5 days after admission; P less than 0.01), and had received antibiotic therapy before infection more often (81% vs. 38% of patients; P less than 0.01) than patients in the comparative population. Types of infection and incidences of death and bacteremia were similar in the two groups. Antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus may cause serious infections and significant mortality.
D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008712:Methicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
D000617:Aminoglycosides; D008712:Methicillin