Resumo

CASTILLO, Juan Sebastián et al. Bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in intensive care unit: of prognostic studies. Infect. [online]. 2011, vol.15, n.1, pp. 25-32. ISSN 0123-9392.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important infectious pathogen in critically ill patients. Local surveillance shows its isolation as infectious causative pathogen at intensive care units in 12.15% of cases and a methicillin resistance rate of 32.9%, specially related with bloodstream infections. This review summarizes available prognosis studies related to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections at intensive care unit (ICU). References with primary or secondary bacteremia patients compared with susceptible pathogen controls or different pathogen were included. Polymicrobial bacteremias were not included. 387 references were retrieved, only six studies met the inclusion criteria. The available evidence does not support a definitive conclusion about MRSA-related mortality in ICU. Increased mortality registered in bivariate analysis disappears when other covariates as appropriate initial therapy and baseline severity are adjusted. The involvement of this marker in ICU patient´s mortality and their prognosis determinants still remain unexplained.

Palavras-chave : Bacteremia; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Hospital mortality; Intensive care units.