METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN BURNS PATIENTS - WHY ALL THE FUSS

Procedures designed to limit spread of methicillin-resistant Staphyloc occus aureus (MRSA) in burns units demand time and resources. To asses s the significance of MRSA in burns patients we performed a retrospect ive review of MRSA colonization in in-patients over a 41-month period at the North Trent Sub-regional Burns Unit. Patients were compared wit h MRSA free controls, matched for age and percentage body surface area (BSA) burn and admitted during the same time period. Length of stay, number of operations and deaths were outcome indicators. All patients managed non-operatively were excluded, leaving 40 MRSA patients and 46 controls. There was no statistical difference between the two groups with regard to number of operations Gn = 0.07), duration of admission (p = 0.12) or mortality (p = 0.09). Of the control group, 83% had woun d swabs positive for methicillin-sensitive Smphylococcus aureus (MSSA) , there was no statistical difference in any outcome variables between this sub-group of controls and MRSA patients. Colonization with S. au reus (both MRSA and MSSA) was associated with larger burns (p<0.05), t wice as many operative procedures (p<0.05) and prolonged admissions (p <0.01). Mortality was unaltered by staphylococcal colonization (p = 0. 8). Although our study lacks power, we would suggest that methicillin resistance per se is not associated with increased morbidity or mortal ity in burns patients. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.