Relevance of vancomycin suceptibility on patients outcome infected with Staphylococcus aureus

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a serious pathogen with high rates of complications. We aim to study the susceptibility and outcome of S. aureus infection. Methods: A retrospective multicentre study conducted in three hospitals, Amman - Jordan. Between June 2013 and March 2014 laboratory records were reviewed for culture-positive samples growing S. aureus, also, medical records for the patients were reviewed for the demographic data, predisposing conditions, vancomycin MIC level and outcome. Inpatients and outpatients were included, a case was classified as either hospital-associated (HA), community-associated (CA), or healthcare-associated (HCA). Data were entered as excel sheets and were statistically analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 127 patient (46% MRSA) were culture-positive for S. aureus from different sources were collected. Eighty (63%) were inpatients. High resistance rates to non β-lactam antimicrobials were recorded. Glycopeptides agents were the antibiotics of choice for the treatment of infections caused by MRSA strains. Complications rates were higher for patients with MRSA infections including mortality, but hospital stay was longer for MSSA.   Conclusion MRSA rates were high though it lately appeared plateauing in Jordan. There is a value for knowing vancomycin MICs for S. aureus as it has its own implications for outcomes, though most outcomes evaluated were significantly worse with MRSA infection.