Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infection recurrence rates in outpatients: a retrospective database study at three US medical centers
AUTHORS
- PMID: 33197926 [PubMed].
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SA-SSTI) are common in healthcare and community settings, and recurrences occur at variable frequency even after successful initial treatment. Knowing their exact burden and timing of recurrent disease are critical to plan and evaluate interventions to prevent recurrent SSTI.
METHODS: In this retrospective study, SSTI cases in patients ≥18 years of age at three US medical centers between 2006-2016 were analyzed according to a biennial cohort design. Index SSTIs (with or without key comorbidities), either microbiologically confirmed to be SA-SSTI or not tested microbiologically (NMT-SSTI), were recorded within one calendar year (evaluable cohort) and followed-up for 12 months for recurrent infections. The number of index cases, proportion of index cases with ≥1 recurrence(s), time-to-first recurrence, and number of recurrences were collected for both SA-SSTI and NMT-SSTI events.
RESULTS: In the most recent cohorts, 4,755 SSTI cases were reported at Columbia, 2,873 at Chicago, and 6,433 at Vanderbilt. Of these, 452, 153, and 354 cases were confirmed to be due to S. aureus. Most cases were reported in patients without key comorbidities. Across centers, 16.4-19.0% (SA-SSTI) and 11.0-19.2% (NMT-SSTI) of index cases had ≥1 recurrence(s). In patients without key comorbidities, more than 60% of index SSTIs with recurrences had only one recurrence, half of which occurred in the first three months following primary infection.
CONCLUSION: SA-SSTI recurrences are common among healthy adults and occur in at least 1 in 6 individuals during the one year following the primary event.
Tags: alumni publications 2020