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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the community in West Essex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2005

S. MILLERSHIP
Affiliation:
Essex Health Protection Unit, Witham and Department of Microbiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex, UK
J. HARRIS
Affiliation:
Essex Health Protection Unit, Witham and Department of Microbiology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, Essex, UK
N. BATCHELOR
Affiliation:
Essex HA, Communicable Disease Team, Witham, Essex, UK
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Abstract

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The study was undertaken in response to local concerns of a rising number of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. All patients resident in the community in Essex at the time of diagnosis with a first isolate of MRSA between 1994 and 2001 identified by the diagnostic microbiology laboratory were included. Although the annual incidence rose throughout the study period the majority of those with MRSA (82%) had had hospital contact within the last 5 years. The subset of patients without hospital contact had a median age of 79·5 years, 63% were female and 32% were residents of care homes. Carriage in this population was detected for up to 41 months post-diagnosis. Neither antibiogram nor clinical presentation distinguished these isolates from local hospital-acquired strains.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press