Category: Federal Forum Posters
Purpose: Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, colonizes the nares, and colonization has been shown to be a predictor of future clinical infections. Nasal swab MRSA testing may be used to guide discontinuation of empiric anti-MRSA antibiotics in patients with clinically confirmed pneumonia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical implications of MRSA colonization nares testing in ruling out MRSA as an etiology in patients diagnosed with pneumonia receiving unnecessary empiric vancomycin therapy.
Methods: This study will be submitted to the Institutional Review Board for approval. Patients included in the study will be identified through the electronic medical record system as ages 18-89, who were admitted to Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVAHCS) between 09/20/2003 to 09/20/2018 for suspected pneumonia, received empiric vancomycin therapy, and received MRSA colonization nares testing. Baseline demographic information will be collected including age, gender, weight, type of medical service, mean days of hospitalization, as well as whether patient had multiple admissions receiving empiric vancomycin therapy for pneumonia. The primary objective will be to determine correlation between MRSA colonization status through nares testing and clinically confirmed MRSA pneumonia through positive MRSA respiratory culture. For secondary objectives we will determine the duration (days) of appropriate vancomycin therapy in patients diagnosed with clinically confirmed MRSA pneumonia, and correlation of MRSA colonization status through nares testing with suspected MRSA pneumonia.
Results: not applicable
Conclusion: not applicable
Chuxi Li
– PGY1 Pharmacy Resident, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson, AZ146 Views