Characteristics and Outcomes of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Surgical-Site Infections in Patients with Cancer: a Case–Control Study

• Published in: Annals of surgical oncology 2010-06, Vol.17 (6), p.1499-1506
• Main Authors: Chemaly, Roy F., Hachem, Ray Y., Husni, Rola N., Bahna, Boulos, Rjaili, Georges Abou, Waked, Alain, Graviss, Linda, Nebiyou Bekele, B., Shah, Jharna N., Raad, Issam I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Case-Control Studies; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Female; Healthcare Policy and Outcomes; Humans; Incidence; Intensive Care Units - statistics & numerical data; Length of Stay - statistics & numerical data; Logistic Models; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - surgery; Oncology; Regression Analysis; Risk Factors; Staphylococcal Infections - complications; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcus aureus; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Surgical Wound Infection - drug therapy; Surgical Wound Infection - epidemiology; Surgical Wound Infection - microbiology; Texas - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1068-9265; 1534-4681
• DOI: 10.1245/s10434-010-0923-5

Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. We experienced an increased incidence of MRSA surgical-site infections (MRSA SSIs) at our institution. However, to our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the risk factors and outcomes of MRSA SSIs in cancer patients. Methods We conducted a case–control study and identified all patients who had developed MRSA SSIs at our institution from July 1, 2002 to July 30, 2003, and all patients who had undergone surgery by the same surgical team during the same time period but who had not developed MRSA SSIs. Cases and controls were age-matched at 1:2 ratio. Results The study included 29 cases and 58 controls. Mean interval between surgery and MRSA SSI onset was 17.8 days (range 3–75 days). Cases were more likely than controls to have progressive cancer (72 versus 38%), have received antibiotics (mainly quinolones) within 24 h of surgery (17 versus 2%), have had ongoing infection (10 versus 0%), and have had longer hospital and intensive care unit stays (11.0 versus 7.8 days and 3.4 versus 1.5 days) (all P