[Impact of nasal colonization by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among geriatric intermediate care facility patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of nasal carriage of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on antibiotic cost, infection morbidity, mortality and length of stay in a geriatric population.


METHODS
341 consecutive elderly patients (mean age 83.4 +/- 8.7 years) admitted to an intermediate care facility were prospectively include between November 1998 and October 1999. Nasal swab cultures were taken on admission.


RESULTS
In sixty patients (17.6%) no nasal swab was taken. Among the 281 patients screened, 52 were identified as MRSA carriers. The principle predictive factors were: diabetes (p=0,046), sores (p=0,03), malnutrition (p=0,02), polypathology (p=0,02) and prolongation of previous hospitalisation (p=0,09).


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal carriage of MRSA on admission to the facility was not a deleterious prognostic factor regarding duration of stay, infectious morbidity and antibiotic cost, but was associated with higher mortality risk.
Giraud
Karine
K
Centre hospitalier Emile Roux (AP-HP), Limeil Brévannes. karine.giraud@erx.ap-hop-paris.fr
Chatap
Guy
G
Bastuji-Garin
Sylvie
S
Vincent
Jean-Pierre
JP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007380:Intermediate Care Facilities; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents