Importance of appropriate empirical antibiotic therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.
OBJECTIVE
To document the effects of appropriate and inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy on mortality in a cohort of patients with bacteraemia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and to summarize effects with previous studies.


METHODS
In the retrospective cohort study, episodes of clinically significant MRSA bacteraemia during a 15 year period were included. Polymicrobial episodes were excluded unless MRSA was isolated in more than one bottle and co-pathogens were given appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment. Appropriate empirical treatment was defined as matching in vitro susceptibility and started within 48 h of blood-culture taking, except for single aminoglycosides or rifampicin. We assessed univariate and multivariate associations between appropriate empirical therapy and 30 day all-cause mortality. Multivariable analysis was conducted using backward stepwise logistic regression. We reviewed all studies assessing the effects of appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment on mortality for MRSA infections and compiled adjusted odds ratios (ORs) using a random effects meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Five hundred and ten episodes of MRSA bacteraemia were included. There were no cases of community-acquired infection. The 30 day mortality was 43.9% (224/510) and was stable throughout the study period. Mortality was significantly higher among patients receiving inappropriate (168/342, 49.1%) compared with those receiving appropriate (56/168, 33.3%) empirical antibiotic treatment, P = 0.001. In the adjusted analysis the OR was 2.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-3.46]. Pooling of six studies using adequate methodology for the adjusted analysis resulted in an OR of 1.98 (95% CI 1.62-2.44).


CONCLUSIONS
Appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment has a significant survival benefit in MRSA bacteraemia. Treatment guidelines should consider this benefit.
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel. paulm@post.tau.ac.il
Mical
M
Paul
Galia
G
Kariv
Elad
E
Goldberg
Maria
M
Raskin
Hila
H
Shaked
Rawi
R
Hazzan
Zmira
Z
Samra
Dina
D
Paghis
Jihad
J
Bishara
Leonard
L
Leibovici
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008508:Medication Errors; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media