Invasive MRSA infections in neurosurgical patients – a decade of progress

AbstractBackground: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important cause of bloodstream infection (BSI), which is declining in many countries, including Ireland. However, it also causes other invasive infections, such as meningitis in neurosurgical patients. It is unclear whether the decline in MRSA BSI is reflected in other invasive infections and in specialist units.Aim: To investigate trends in the incidence of MRSA invasive infection in a national neurosurgical centre over a 10-year period.Methods: A retrospective review of neurosurgical patients with MRSA recovered from sterile sites and indicating invasive infection, according to internationally agreed definitions was conducted between January 2006 and December 2015. Rates per 10,000 bed days used (BDU) and neurosurgical bed days used (NBDU) were calculated and trends were analysed.Results: Forty-four cases of invasive MRSA infection were identified over the study period. The majority were BSI (26, 59%) followed by ventriculitis ...