Risk factors for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients with end-stage renal disease in Taiwan

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at particular risk for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, especially via nasal colonization of MRSA. Surveillance cultures are recommended to identify patients colonized by MRSA. Methods: Clinical data and screening cultures of S. aureus from the anterior nares of 541 patients on long-term dialysis in the hospitals were performed in March 2007. The follow-up survey was conducted 1 year later. Results: A total of 32 (5.9%) of the 541 patients were positive nasal cultures for MRSA, while 89 (16.5%) were positive for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). In a multivariate analysis, risk factors for ESRD patients with MRSA colonization included congestive heart failure, nursing home admission, and nasogastric tube feeding in the last 3 months. Follow-up of the 32 MRSA colonized patients showed that one (3.1%) died due to MSSA and three (9.3%) died due from MRSA infection. Conclusions: We found that patients with ESRD and MRSA nasal colonization were associated with a history of congestive heart failure, nursing home admission, and nasogastric tube feeding in the last 3 months