PURPOSE: So far, few data is available on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in urology.
To obtain a better insight into MRSA infections, we studied prevalence, colonization and infection site and clinical implications of MRSA in a urological department over a 10-year period.
METHODS: A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with MRSA for the first time over a 10-year period was set-up.
RESULTS: Between 2000 and 2009, a total of 95.161 in- and outpatients were seen at our department. The prevalence of patients with newly diagnosed MRSA was low, that is, < 0.1 % per year (mean 0.07%, 0.02-0.1 %). In total, 62 MRSA cases were identified over a 10-year period. MRSA incidence was 10 times higher in inpatients (0.2 %) than in outpatients (0.02 %). Asymptomatic MRSA colonization was present in 25/62 patients (40.3 %), the remaining 59.7 % (37/62) showed clinical symptoms: MRSA positive swabs from open wounds were seen in 10/62 patients (16.1 %). Urinary tract infections were seen in 26/10 patients (41.9 %), while life-threatening MRSA sepsis occurred in one patient only over a decade.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary, we observed very low rates of MRSA colonization and infection. Still, complications like delayed wound healing, development of abscess and even sepsis may occur.
Written by:
Heidler S, Asboth F, Mert C, Madersbacher S. Are you the author?
Department of Urology and Andrology, Donauspital, Langobardenstrasse 122, Vienna, 1220, Austria.
Reference: World J Urol. 2012 Aug 5. Epub ahead of print.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22864461
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