Abstract
Background
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes >70,000 invasive infections annually in the United States, and recurrent infections pose a major clinical challenge. We examined risk factors for recurrent MRSA infections.
Methods
We identified patients with an initial invasive MRSA infection (isolation from a normally sterile body site) from 2006 to 2013, through active, population-based surveillance in selected counties in nine states through the Emerging Infections Program. Recurrence was defined as invasive MRSA isolation >30 days after initial isolation. We used logistic regression with backwards selection to evaluate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) associated with recurrence within 180 days, prior healthcare exposures, and initial infection type, controlling for patient demographics and comorbidities.
Results
Among 24,478 patients with invasive MRSA, 3,976 (16%) experienced a recurrence, including 61% (2,438) within 180 days. Risk factors for recurrence were: injection drug use (IDU) (aOR; 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–1.65), central venous catheters (aOR; 1.35, 95% CI: 1.22–1.51), dialysis (aOR; 2.00, 95% CI: 1.74–2.31), and history of MRSA colonization (aOR; 1.35, 95% CI: 1.22–1.51) (figure). Recurrence was more likely for bloodstream infections (BSI) without another infection (aOR; 2.08, 95% CI: 1.74–2.48), endocarditis (aOR; 1.46, 95% CI: 1.16–1.55), and bone/joint infections (aOR; 1.38, 95% CI: 1.20–1.59), and less likely for pneumonia (aOR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64–0.89), compared with other initial infection types. When assessed separately, the presence of a secondary BSI with another infection increased the odds of recurrence over that infection without a BSI (aOR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.68–2.30).
Conclusion
Approximately one in six persons with invasive MRSA infection had recurrence. We identified potential opportunities to prevent recurrence through infection control (e.g., management and early removal of central catheters). Other possible areas for preventing recurrence include improving the management of patients with BSI and bone/joint infections (including both during and after antibiotic treatment) and mitigating risk of infection from IDU.
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.
Correspondence Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) infection in a Japanese elderly care nursing home
