Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an infectious disease that has been a cause of nosocomial infections since the 1960s, but has more recently become an emergent disease in community settings. MRSA infections that develop outside hospitals have been associated with risk factors such as young age, recent antibiotic use, recent contact with health care, and dermatological conditions. To provide descriptive epidemiological data and evaluate potential risk factors, we undertook a case-control study of Allegheny County residents with laboratory-confirmed MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) cultures from January through August of 2007. A random sample of each group was contacted and interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Comparing 54 MRSA culture-positive residents to 50 MSSA culture-positive residents, we found that having a reported self history of MRSA (p<.001), having a household member or self recently having been in the hospital (p=.041), and having a household member or self recently having been in a community living setting (p=.032) were significant risks of having a positive MRSA culture. These findings have public health significance because as a greater number of people become infected or colonized by MRSA, the reservoir in the community will continue to grow, resulting in a greater number of infections and increased morbidity and mortality from the disease.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PITT/oai:PITTETD:etd-04112008-123143 |
| Date | 27 June 2008 |
| Creators | Lucado, Jennifer Lynn |
| Contributors | Stewart J. Anderson, Rodger L. Beatty, Lawrence A. Kingsley |
| Publisher | University of Pittsburgh |
| Source Sets | University of Pittsburgh |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04112008-123143/ |
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