Nosocomial MRSA Infection in Vascular Surgery Patients: Impact on Patient Outcome

Although methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a worldwide problem, data on its significance among vascular surgery patients remain scant and conflicting. This study was designed to evaluate the association between nosocomial MRSA infection and patient outcome following vascular surgery procedures. Outcomes among patients with MRSA infection were also compared to those infected with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). All patients admitted to a tertiary care Vascular Surgery ward during the year 2002 were included in this retrospective review. In addition to information on demographic and comorbid conditions, data on surgical interventions, nosocomial infection incidence rates as defined by the Center for Disease Control guidelines, and MRSA screening results were collected. Primary outcome was in-hospital death. Secondary outcomes measures included length of hospital stay, readmissions, or repeat surgeries, and ICU admissions. Of a total of 408 subjects, 110 were documented with a nosocomial infection (27.0%). Of these, 16 patients (3.9%) were colonized with MRSA on screening at time of admission, 22 (5.4%) had acquired MRSA infection during hospitalization, and 15 (3.7%) had MSSA infection. Patients with MRSA, MSSA, and non-MRSA infection had similar baseline characteristics except for hypertensio