Central Line–Associated MRSA BSIs in U.S. ICUs

Healthcare-associated infections, particularly central line–associated bloodstream infections (CL-BSIs) and invasive infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have received much attention in recent years. Now, to examine trends in the incidence of MRSA CL-BSIs in U.S. ICUs, researchers have analyzed CDC surveillance system data for 1997 through 2007.

During this period, 1684 ICUs reported 33,587 CL-BSIs, of which 2498 (7.4%) were caused by MRSA and 1590 (4.7%) were caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Overall, the proportion of S. aureus CL-BSIs caused by MRSA increased from 47.9% in 1997 to 64.5% in 2007. However, although the annual incidence of MRSA CL-BSIs increased from 1997 through 2001, it then d…