Prevalence of MRSA in US hospitals hits new high

doi:10.1136/bmj.39388.619780.DB

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

David Spurgeon

Quebec

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

The number of cases of infection with methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in US hospitals rose to nearly369 000 in 2005, new figures show—a rise of 30% from the2004 figure.

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

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

Stays in hospital for such infections (whose origin—whetheracquired in the community or in hospital—was not knownto the authors) cost on average $14 000 (£6700; ${euro}$ 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]