title: Epidemiology of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in Alberta, Canada.
abstract: Most studies of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infection (BSI) reflect a convenience sample from a single hospital or a small group of hospitals. From April 2011 to March 2013, cases of MRSA BSI diagnosed in all hospitals in Alberta, Canada were captured prospectively. Isolates were spa typed. In total, there were 299 cases of MRSA BSI, equating to 3.95 cases per 100,000 population. Community-acquired BSI accounted for 66.9% of cases, and 33.1% of cases were hospital acquired. Cases were predominantly seen in tertiary care (36.4%) and large urban hospitals (34.3%), but were also common in regional and rural hospitals. Paediatric hospitals had very few cases (3.0%). Two clones, CMRSA 10 (USA 300; 40.2%) and CMRSA 2 (USA 100/800; 38.0%), predominated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: Geoff.taylor@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bush
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Alberta Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: Alberta Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Alberta, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Louie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Blood cultures; Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); Surveillance