Methicillin‐resistant staphylococcus aureus: colonization and development of infection in patients with haematological disorders

A retrospective study of 53 patients with haematological disorders whose bacterial cultures were positive for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), was performed to analyse the risk factors for MRSA infection, and the prognostic factors. Sixteen patients showed colonization by MRSA but never developed infection(C), 16 showed colonization and subsequent infection(C‐I), while 21 had MRSA infection at the time of first culture (I). Poor performance status, thrombocytopenia, increased serum urea nitrogen and decreased serum cholinesterase were more prominent in (I) than (C) + (C‐I). The risk factors associated with the development of infection from colonization were age and serum cholinesterase. In addition, lower respiratory tract infection as a type of infection, non‐remission status of the haematological malignancy and an inappropriate antibiotic therapy were associated with a poor prognosis for MRSA infection.