Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, Australia.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is common and increasing worldwide. A retrospective review was undertaken to quantify the number of cases, their place of acquisition, and the proportions caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in 17 hospitals in Australia. Of 3,192 episodes, 1,571 (49%) were community onset. MRSA caused 40% of hospital-onset episodes and 12% of community-onset episodes. The median rate of SAB was 1.48/1,000 admissions (range 0.61-3.24; median rate for hospital-onset SAB was 0.7/1,000 and for community onset 0.8/1,000 admissions). Using these rates, we estimate that approximately 6,900 episodes of SAB occur annually in Australia (35/100,000 population). SAB is common, and a substantial proportion of cases may be preventable. The epidemiology is evolving, with >10% of community-onset SAB now caused by MRSA. This is an emerging infectious disease concern and is likely to impact on empiric antimicrobial drug prescribing in suspected cases of SAB.
Collignon
Peter
P
The Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. peter.collignon@act.gov.au
Nimmo
Graeme R
GR
Gottlieb
Thomas
T
Gosbell
Iain B
IB
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents