Fact Sheet

Invasive MRSA

Released: October 17, 2007

 

This fact sheet is a summary of the data presented in the PDF icon Journal of the American Medical Association 2007;298(15):1763-1771.

The estimated number of people developing a serious MRSA infection (i.e., invasive) in 2005 was about 94,360; this is higher than estimates using other methods.

Approximately 18,650 persons died during a hospital stay related to these serious MRSA infections.

Serious MRSA disease is still predominantly related to exposures to healthcare delivery:

  • About 85% of all invasive MRSA infections were associated with healthcare, and of those, about two-thirds occurred outside of the hospital, while about one third occurred during hospitalization.
  • About 14% of all the infections occurred in persons without obvious exposures to healthcare.

Although the rates of disease varied between the geographically diverse sites participating in the surveillance, overall rates of disease were consistently highest among older persons (age >65), Blacks, and males.

Evaluation of the pathogens causing these infections confirmed that most of the strains associated with these serious MRSA infections were caused by strains traditionally associated with healthcare. However, the strains traditionally associated with transmission in the community are now being identified in healthcare.

For more information on how to prevent MRSA, please visit:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_prevention.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca_prevention.html

 

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Date last modified: October 17, 2007
Content source: 
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases