title: Does MRSA affect patient outcomes in the elderly? A retrospective pilot study.
abstract: We retrospectively studied admissions to our geriatric acute assessment and rehabilitation ward over a one-year period, to identify those with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and determine whether this affected outcomes. Two hundred and thirty eight admissions of 204 patients were analysed and 9.8% of patients were MRSA positive. Demographics did not differ between MRSA positive and negative patients. Respiratory co-morbidity was more common in MRSA positive patients. Rates of functional decline did not differ between the two groups. Those colonized or infected by MRSA had a significantly longer stay (51.4 vs. 32.2 days, P=0.03), perhaps due to isolation and limited rehabilitation. The virulence of MRSA may be less in these patients, therefore isolation may be inappropriate and counter-productive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Eastern General Hospital, Seafield Street, Edinburgh.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Stolarek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009026:Mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*