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Abstract

Background:

Little is known about the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in palliative care settings. To date, the clinical impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in palliative care is unknown.

Aim:

To determine prevalence and incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in a specialist palliative care setting, to identify risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation, to determine the eradication success rate and to determine the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on survival.

Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Setting/participants:

Data were collected for consecutive admissions to an inpatient palliative care service. Patients were screened for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation on admission and 1 week post admission. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus eradication was attempted in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus positive patients.

Results:

Data were collected from 609 admissions for 466 individual patients. Admission screening data were available in 95.5%. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation was 11.59% (54 patients). One week incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation was 1.2%. Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation were determined using Chi-Squared test and included high Waterlow score (p < 0.01), high palliative performance scale score (p < 0.01), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus status prior to admission (p < 0.01), admission from hospital (p < 0.05), presence of urinary catheter or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (p < 0.05) and poor dietary intake (p < 0.05). Regression analysis did not identify independent risk factors. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was eradicated in 8.1% of admissions, while 46 patients commenced on the protocol (62.2%) died before completing it. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus did not significantly impact survival but was significantly associated with having infection episodes and longer length of stay.

Conclusion:

This study identified risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in palliative care patients. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was eradicated in 8.1% of patients. Hence, restricting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening to high-risk palliative care patients may be prudent.

Keywords

Palliative care hospices risk factors infection control terminal care

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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus : Prevalence,incidence,risk factors,and effects on survival of patients in a specialist palliative care unit: A prospective observational study

Abstract

Background:

Aim:

Design:

Setting/participants:

Results:

Conclusion:

Keywords

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References