Systemic inflammatory response syndrome in adult patients with nosocomial bloodstream infection due to Staphylococcus aureus

To determine the impact of methicillin resistance on clinical course and ou tcome, we evaluated nosocomial bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to Staphyl ococcus aureus that were diagnosed in 82 adult patients at the Medical Coll ege of Virginia Hospitals from December 1995 through May 1997. Patients wit h BSI due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus were compared with patients wi th BSI due to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus; the groups did not differ with regard to inflammatory response or outcome. Mortality was predicted by systemic inflammatory response and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Eva luation II score but did not correlate with bacterial resistance to methici llin.