Has the publication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treatment guidelines increased the survival associated with MRSA bacteraemia?
OBJECTIVE
To establish whether local practice review and national methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treatment guidelines have increased the survival of patients with MRSA bacteraemia.


METHODS
A multisite retrospective analysis of survival of patients with MRSA bacteraemia, which included patients from March 1995 to December 2008. Periods before and after the publication of UK guidelines were compared.


RESULTS
Data were analysed for 1675 patients with a mean age of 69.8 years. Survival for the period up to and including 2003 was 64.3%, and was 62.8% for both 2004-2005 and 2006-2008.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant difference in survival in relation to local practice review or the publication of national guidelines was detected.
Brindle
Richard
R
Department of Microbiology, Portsmouth Hospitals, Portsmouth, UK. richard@brindle.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006291:Health Policy; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult