The burden of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections among hospitalised patients in singapore

Background: MRSA has caused enormous burden to affected Western patients and society. However, only limited study results originated from the Asia-Pacific populations. Aim: To assess the burden of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections (MRSA) among patients from a large tertiary care hospital in Singapore. Methods: Retrospective study using data from the hospital discharge database to identify patients with MRSA and Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus infections (MSSA) using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 9th Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-9-AM) codes. Findings: Amongst 543,068 hospitalized patients between 2004 and 2010, 8,664(1.6%) were infected with S. Aureus, including 4,868(0.9%) with MRSA. Compared with uninfected controls, MRSA patients had longer hospital stay (geometric mean, GM, 12.2 vs. 3.0 days), higher hospitalization costs (GM, $6294.7 vs. $2295.7), higher in-hospital mortality rate (7.8% vs. 2.8%) and higher 30-day all-cause unscheduled readmission rate (36.3% vs. 23.7%, all p<0.001). The difference still existed after adjustment for age groups, gender, ethnicity, medical management, and Charlson comorbidity index. Similarly, MRSA patients had longer hospital stay, higher hospitalization costs, higher in-hospital mortality rate and 30-day all-cause unscheduled readmission rate compared with patients with MSSA. Conclusion: MRSA infection was associated with poor clinical outcomes and higher economic burden in this population. Prevention and control measures should be implemented both inside and outside the hospital setting

Charlson comorbidity index · Comorbidity · Environmental health · Hospital readmission · Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus · Mortality rate · Population · Retrospective cohort study · Staphylococcus aureus · Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus · Medicine · Neonatal and Maternal Infections · Emergency Medicine · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics