Re: MRSA Cases Up 10-Fold (1999-2008) Study
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Antibiotic Management of Staphylococcus aureus Infections in US Children's Hospitals, 1999?2008
<nobr>Joshua C. Herigon, MPH<sup>a</sup><sup>,b</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Adam L. Hersh, MD, PhD<sup>c</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Jeffrey S. Gerber, MD, PhD<sup>d</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Theoklis E. Zaoutis, MD, MSCE<sup>d</sup></nobr>, <nobr>Jason G. Newland, MD<sup>a</sup><sup>,b</sup></nobr>
<sup>a</sup>Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics,
<sup>b</sup>Department of Pediatrics, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri;
<sup>c</sup>Division of General Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; and
<sup>d</sup>Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Objectives The objective of this study was to describe trends in antibiotic<sup> </sup>management for Staphylococcus aureus infections among hospitalized<sup> </sup>children from 1999 to 2008.<sup> </sup>
Methods A retrospective study was conducted by using the Pediatric Health<sup> </sup>Information Systems database to describe antibiotic treatment<sup> </sup>of inpatients with S aureus infection at 25 children's hospitals<sup> </sup>in the United States. Patients who were admitted from 1999 to<sup> </sup>2008 with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision,<sup> </sup>Clinical Modification codes for S aureus infection were included.<sup> </sup>Trends in the use of vancomycin, clindamycin, linezolid, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,<sup> </sup>cefazolin, and oxacillin/nafcillin were examined for percentage<sup> </sup>use and days of therapy per 1000 patient-days.<sup> </sup>
Results A total of 64813 patients had a discharge diagnosis for S aureus<sup> </sup>infection. The incidence of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA)<sup> </sup>infections during this period increased 10-fold, from 2 to 21<sup> </sup>cases per 1000 admissions, whereas the methicillin-susceptible<sup> </sup>S aureus infection rate remained stable. Among patients with<sup> </sup>S aureus infections, antibiotics that treat MRSA increased from<sup> </sup>52% to 79% of cases, whereas those that treat only methicillin-susceptible<sup> </sup>S aureus declined from 66% to <30% of cases. Clindamycin<sup> </sup>showed the greatest increase, from 21% in 1999 to 63% in 2008.<sup> </sup>Similar trends were observed by using days of therapy per 1000<sup> </sup>patient-days.<sup> </sup>
Conclusions Antibiotic prescribing patterns for the treatment of S aureus<sup> </sup>infections have changed significantly during the past decade,<sup> </sup>reflecting the emergence of community-associated MRSA. Clindamycin<sup> </sup>is now the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for S aureus<sup> </sup>infections among hospitalized children. The substantial use<sup> </sup>of clindamycin emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring<sup> </sup>of local S aureus susceptibility patterns.<sup> </sup>
Key Words: Staphylococcus aureus ? epidemiology ? pediatric ? antibiotic use
Abbreviations: SSTI = skin and soft tissue infection ? MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ? CA-MRSA = community-associated MRSA ? MSSA = methicillin-susceptible S aureus ? TMP/SMX = trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole ? PHIS = Pediatric Health Information System ? CHCA = Child Health Corporation of America ? ICD-9-CM = International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification ? DOT = days of therapy
<hr align="left" width="50%" noshade="noshade" size="1"> Accepted Feb 22, 2010.