What's in a Name? Is Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Just Another S aureus When Treated with Vancomycin

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, principally resistant to penicillinase-resistant penicillins and aminoglycosides, are increasingly common hospital isolates. We have examined the significance of MRSA colonization and infection in 1100 consecutively admitted, seriously burned patients in whom vancomycin was used to treat all staphylococcal infections. Colonization with S ureus (SA) was identified i 658 patients, in 319 of whom MRSA colonization was identified. Two hundred fifty- three SA infections occurred in 58 of the SA-infected patients. A severity index, based on multiple-regression analysis of mortality as a function of burn size and age in the study population, was used to estimate expected mortality. We demonstrated no measurable increase in mortality attributable to MRSA in this population of burned, SA-infected patients. (js)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA228977

Entities

People

  • Albert T. Mcmanus
  • Arthur D. Mason Jr.
  • Basil A. Pruitt Jr.
  • William F. McManus

Organizations

  • United States Army Institute of Surgical Research

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Bacteria
  • Burns
  • Coinfection
  • Health Services
  • Hospitals
  • Infection
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Patient Care
  • Prosthetics
  • Regression Analysis
  • Staphylococcal Infections
  • Staphylococcus Aureus
  • Therapy
  • Wound Infections

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Microbial Pathology
  • Military/Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technology
  • Trauma or Military Medicine