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Emergence of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci as Major Nosocomial Bloodstream Pathogens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Richard I. Stillman
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia Department of Internal Medicine, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Richard P. Wenzel
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia Department of Internal Medicine, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Leigh C. Donowitz*
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia Department of Internal Medicine, Cornell University Medical Center, New York, New York Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
*
Department of Pediatrics, Box 386, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908

Abstract

Over an eight year period, 1975 to 1982, 1,843 nosocomial bloodstream infections were identified by routine prospective surveillance at the University of Virginia Hospital (106/10,000 admissions). Despite a decline in overall bloodstream infection rates during the study period (P =.085), bloodstream infections due to gram positive organisms increased from 29 (1975-1978) to 43/10,000 (1979-1982), (P<0.001). Notably, rates for coagulase negative staphylococci increased from 5.2 (1975-1978) to 12.4/10,000 (1979-1982), (P<0.001). In 1982, coagulase negative staphylococci accounted for 17% of all bloodstream infections and were the most frequently isolated pathogens. Sixty-four percent of patients with coagulase negative staphylococci were in critical care units versus 41% with other bloodstream infections (P<.05). The recognition of coagulase negative staphylococci as significant bloodstream pathogens markedly alters the clinician's approach to nosocomial septicemia.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1987

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