Clinical features of head and neck cancer patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
CONCLUSIONS
The risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection in head and neck cancer patients are the duration of hospitalization, intravenous hyperalimentation, prior antibiotic use, and the coexistence of other pathogens.


OBJECTIVE
To shed light on the clinical characteristics of MRSA-positive inpatients with head and neck cancers. The secondary goal was to evaluate risk factors for MRSA detection in comparison with methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA).


METHODS
Sixty-one consecutive inpatients with head and neck cancers with S. aureus detection were analyzed based on their medical records. The antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated S. aureus was tested by the broth microdilution method.


RESULTS
MRSA and MSSA were detected in 46 (75.4%) and 15 (24.6%) of the 61 patients, respectively. There was no significant difference in the male/female ratio, age, primary site, comorbidity, cancer stage, cancer treatment, or 5-year survival rate between the MRSA and MSSA groups. Compared with the MSSA group, the MRSA group had significantly longer hospitalization periods and intervals between admission and MRSA detection, as well as significantly greater likelihood of intravenous hyperalimentation, prior antibiotic use, and co-isolation of other pathogens. Isolated strains of MRSA were thoroughly sensitive to vancomycin and arbekacin and moderately sensitive to minocycline.
Shiomori
Teruo
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Kitakyushu, Japan. t-shio@med.uoeh-u.ac.jp
Miyamoto
Hiroshi
H
Udaka
Tsuyoshi
T
Okochi
Jiro
J
Hiraki
Nobuaki
N
Hohchi
Nobusuke
N
Hashida
Koichi
K
Fujimura
Takeyuki
T
Kitamura
Takuro
T
Nagatani
Gunji
G
Ohbuchi
Toyoaki
T
Suzuki
Hideaki
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents