The impact of MRSA on vascular surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of MRSA infection in patients treated in a major vascular unit and examine its consequences.


METHODS
A retrospective case-note review was performed.


RESULTS
During the period 1993 to 2000, a total of 172 patients (4.4% of total) were positive for MRSA. Of these 97 were colonised and 75 were infected by MRSA. The proportion of wound or graft infections caused by MRSA has increased (4% in 1994 to 63% in 2000). Three patients developed native artery infection (one following aortic stent insertion and 2 following embolectomy). All patients with aortic graft infection died. All patients with infected prosthetic infrainguinal bypass ended up with an amputation.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of MRSA infection is increasing. Infection of aortic grafts appears to be uniformly fatal and lower limb graft infection is associated with high limb loss.
Nasim
A
A
Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK.
Thompson
M M
MM
Naylor
A R
AR
Bell
P R
PR
London
N J
NJ
D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*