94
Views
5
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Article

Favorable prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia originating from soft tissues: A prospective study of fifty cases

, &
Pages 6-10 | Received 24 May 2004, Accepted 29 Sep 2004, Published online: 08 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia often causes metastatic infection and endocarditis. The incidence of these complications in soft tissue-associated bacteremia is not well defined. We conducted a prospective observational study of all adult in patients with S. aureus bacteremia originating from soft tissues from 1 January 2002 to 30 June 2003, in a 600-bed teaching hospital. 376 patients with ≥1 positive blood cultures for S. aureus were encountered; 50 (13.3%) had a soft tissue source, and 46% were nosocomial. Age was 21–103 y (median 60 y). The majority (96%) had comorbid conditions. Predisposing factors such as surgery, trauma and miscellaneous skin conditions were common (88%). Oxacillin-resistant isolates accounted for 26 cases (52%). Metastatic infections were uncommon (6%). Duration of bacteremia was 1–13 d (median 1 d). Bacteremia persisted for 2–13 d in 11 (28.9%) patients; only 2 had apparent complications. Duration of treatment was 5–42 d (median 14 d); it was ≤15 d in 23/41 (56.1%) patients. Therapy was all intravenous (68%) or intravenous/oral (32%). Attributable mortality rate was 6% and relapse was encountered in 1/25 survivors (4%) with follow-up. These findings suggest that soft tissue-associated S. aureus bacteremia has a favorable prognosis with rapid clearance and infrequent metastatic infections. It may persist without an obvious complication. Oral therapy after a brief intravenous treatment appears safe and warrants further assessment.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.