Risk Factors of Tumbarello et al for Suspecting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in an HIV-Infected Patient

Description

Tumbarello et al identified risk factors associated with methicillin-resistant strains in HIV-infected patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. These can help identify patients who may benefit from coverage for MRSA while susceptibility tests are being performed. The authors are from the Catholic University in Rome.

Patient selection: HIV-infected patient with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Parameters:

(1) history of previous therapy with beta-lactam antibiotics

(2) number of previous hospital admissions

(3) CD4-positive lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood

Parameter	Finding	Points
previous therapy with beta-lactam antibiotics	no	0
	yes	1
number of previous hospital admissions	0 or 1	0
	multiple	1
CD4-positive lymphocyte count	normal	0
	low	1

number of risk factors for MRSA =

= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum number of risk factors: 0

• maximum number of risk factors: 3

• The risk of the Staphylococcus aureus being methicillin-resistant increases as the number of risk factors increases.

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10