Active surveillance culture of the trachea for MRSA is predictor of MRSA infections among patients in Intensive Care Unit
WANG Ying
Abstract：Objective To investigate whether traditional surveillance culture of the anterior nares for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA) shows sufficient sensitivity and predictive value compared to other sites, especially the trachea, in ICU patients.Methods A prospective observational cohort study was performed in 142 patients.Samples for MRSA detection were obtained at the time of admission, 48 h after admission, and then weekly thereafter.All subjects were routinely monitored for the development of MRSA infection during their stay in the ICU.Results MRSA colonization was detected in 65 (46%) patients over the course of the study.The sensitivity of MRSA surveillance culture was significantly higher in tracheal aspirates ( 82%, 53/65 ) than in anterior nares (47%, 30/65) ( P <0.001).The sensitivity of MRSA surveillance culture for subsequent MRSA infection and MRSA pneumonia was also higher in the trachea (69% and 93%, respectively) than in the anterior nares (48 and 50%, respectively).The area under the curve for subsequent MRSA infection was higher in trachea (0.675) than in the anterior nares (0.648); however, this difference was not significant (P>0.05).The area under the curve for MRSA pneumonia was significantly higher in trachea (0.791, 95%CI 0.739 ~0.837) than anterior nares (0.649, 95% CI 0.590 ~0.705) (P=0.044).Conclusion Cultures from tracheal aspirates are more sensitive and predictive of subsequent MRSA pneumonia than cultures from the anterior nares in this population.
Keywords：Active surveillance cultureMethicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA)MRSA infection
Publication Date：2015-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 514-517,518 )