BMJ  2007;335:961 (10 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.39388.619780.DB

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Prevalence of MRSA in US hospitals hits new high

Quebec

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The number of cases of infection with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in US hospitals rose to nearly 369 000 in 2005, new figures show—a rise of 30% from the 2004 figure.

The data, collated over the 13 years from 1993 to 2005, have been published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb35.jsp). They show that in 1993 fewer than 2000 MRSA infections were recorded in US hospitals.

Of the 368 600 patients treated in US hospitals in 2005 for MRSA, about 5% died, the report says. Most of these were elderly patients or people on low incomes.

Stays in hospital for such infections (whose origin—whether acquired in the community or in hospital—was not known to the authors) cost on average $14 000 (£6700; 9700), whereas the average cost for all other types of stay was $7600; and the average length of stay for MRSA infections . . . [Full text of this article]

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