Researchers conducted a multicenter, observational study of 884 hospitalized adult patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. They divided patients into three groups based on how long they had Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia:
● Short (one to two days)
● Intermediate (three to six days)
● Prolonged (seven of more days)
Of the 884 patients, 63 percent experienced a short duration of bacteremia; 28 percent experienced an intermediate duration; and 9 percent a prolonged duration.
The study shows the prolonged group had the highest proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Choice of antibiotic therapy did not significantly affect bacteremia duration.
Researchers also found that metastatic complications, length of stay and 30-day mortality worsened as duration of having the bacteremia increased. Each day of bacteremia was associated with relative risk of death of 1.16.
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