Description

Lucet et al identified risk factors for being a carrier of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in adults admitted to French intensive care units (ICUs). These can help identify patients who should be screened and monitored more closely. The authors are from the Multicenter Study Group representing multiple French teaching hospitals.


Parameters identified in multivariate analysis:

(1) age of the patient in years

(2) transfer from ward into ICU vs direct admit

(3) duration of hospital stay prior to ICU admission

(4) history of hospitalization in the ICU within the past 5 years

(5) history of surgery during the past 5 years

(6) presence of open skin lesions at the time of ICU admission

 

Parameter

Transfer from Ward

Direct Admit to ICU

age

> 60 years

> 60 years

hospital stay prior to ICU admission

>= 21 days

NA

history of ICU stay during past 5 years

NA

Yes

history of surgery during past 5 years

NA

Yes

presence of open skin lesions

NA

Yes

 

where:

• I would think a history of MRSA infection in the past would be a risk factor.

• The odds ratios for each risk factor range from 2 to 3.5.

 

The more risk factors that are present the greater the risk of being an MRSA carrier.


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