Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as an unrecognized source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) caused colonization or infection around the gastrostomy site of seven hospitalized patients, five of whom were in the long-term care unit. All cultures of gastrostomy sites were retrospectively reviewed, and 28% had MRSA. The gastrostomy site was responsible for 6.3% of all MRSA cultures, and 12.5% of all MRSA-positive patients with gastrostomy site cultures had involvement at that site. The implications of MRSA and gastrostomy tubes are discussed.
Nunley
D
D
Department of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, College of Medicine, Johnson City.
Berk
S L
SL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005773:Gastroscopy; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006745:Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013714:Tennessee