title: Prevalence of MRSA among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from hospital inpatients, 2005: report from the Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance.
abstract: The Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance conducted a survey of the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in unique clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from patients admitted to hospital for more than 48 hours. Thirty-two laboratories from all states and territories collected 2,908 isolates from 1 May 2005, of which 31.9% were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The regional prevalence of MRSA varied significantly (P < 0.0001) from 22.5% in Western Australia to 43.4% in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory. Prevalence of MRSA from individual laboratories varied even more from 4% to 58%. This variation was explained in part by distribution of age with the risk of MRSA significantly (P < 0.0001) increasing with age. Other unmeasured factors including hospital activity and infection control practices in the individual institution may have also contributed. Further investigation is warranted as reductions in prevalence would reduce morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Central Laboratory, Herston. Graeme_Nimmo@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Graeme R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Nimmo
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Collignon
authors.forename: Keryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: Geoffrey W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Coombs
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Mary-Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McLaws
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents