Table 1.
Patient, infection, and outcome characteristics of veterans with MRSA bacteremia at four VHA centers, 1997–2008, n=271.a
| Variable a | n (%) or mean ± SD |
|---|---|
| MRSA Isolate Characteristics | |
| USA300 MRSA | 67 (25) |
| Non-USA300 MRSA | 204 (75) |
| Patient Characteristics | |
| Age (in years) | 67 ± 13 |
| Male | 269 (>99) |
| Race | |
| White | 150 (55) |
| Black | 96 (36) |
| VHA Center isolated from | |
| Baltimore | 161 (59) |
| Washington DC | 23 (9) |
| Buffalo | 79 (29) |
| Richmond | 8 (3) |
| Year of presentation | |
| 1997–2003 | 87 (32) |
| 2004–2008 | 184 (68) |
| Charlson score | 5.0 ± 3.0 |
| Past history of colonization or infection with MRSA | 85 (31) |
| Hospitalized in the year prior to infection | 196 (72) |
| Residence in a LTCF in the year prior to infection | 46 (17) |
| Surgery in the year prior to infection | 117 (43) |
| Renal failure in the year prior to infection | 102 (38) |
| Infection Characteristics | |
| Nosocomial infection | 176 (65) |
| Presence of a central line at the time of infection | 82 (30) |
| Presence of permanent hardware at the time of infection | 98 (36) |
| Source of infection | |
| Primary | 101 (37) |
| Secondary | 167 (62) |
| Infection complicated by | |
| Endocarditis | 28 (10) |
| Pneumonia | 45 (17) |
| Outcome Characteristics | |
| Severe sepsis or septic shock in response to infection | 63 (23) |
| Mortality within 90 days of infection | 121 (45) |
| Infection caused or contributed to death | 83 (69) |
a
MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; VHA: Veterans Health Administration; SD: standard deviation; LTCF: long-term care facility.