METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS - COLONIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS

A retrospective study of 53 patients with haematological disorders who se bacterial cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylo coccus aureus (MRSA), was performed to analyse the risk factors for MR SA infection, and the prognostic factors. Sixteen patients showed colo nization by MRSA but never developed infection(C), 16 showed colonizat ion and subsequent infection(C-I), while 21 had MRSA infection at the time of first culture (I). Poor performance status, thrombocytopenia, increased serum urea nitrogen and decreased serum cholinesterase were more prominent in (I) than (C)+(C-I). The risk factors associated with the development of infection from colonization were age and serum cho linesterase. In addition, lower respiratory tract infection as a type of infection, non-remission status of the haematological malignancy an d an inappropriate antibiotic therapy were associated with a poor prog nosis for MRSA infection.