Recommended Citation
Jorgensen SC, Lagnf AM, Bhatia S, Singh NB, Shammout LK, Davis SL, Rybak MJ. Diagnostic Stewardship: A Clinical Decision Rule for Blood Cultures in Community-Onset Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Skin and Soft Tissue Infections. Infect Dis Ther 2019; .
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-19-2019
Publication Title
Infect Dis Ther
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The emergence, spread and persistence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a causative pathogen in community-onset (CO) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) have resulted in substantial changes in the management of these infections. The indications for obtaining blood cultures in patients with CO-MRSA SSTIs remain poorly defined. The objectives of this study were to derive and validate a clinical decision rule that predicts the probability of MRSA bacteremia in CO-MRSA SSTIs and to identify a low-risk population for whom blood cultures may be safely omitted.
METHODS: This was a retrospective, case-control study with an internal temporal validation cohort conducted at two large urban academic medical centers. Hospitalized adults with CO-MRSA SSTI between 2010 and 2018 were included. Independent predictors of MRSA bacteremia were identified through multivariable logistic regression. A decision rule was derived using weighted coefficient-based scoring. The decision rule was validated in an internal temporal validation cohort.
RESULTS: A total of 307 patients (155 cases and 152 controls) were included in the derivation cohort. A decision rule was created with a "major criterion" defined as purulent cellulitis and "minor criteria" defined as abnormal temperature, intravenous drug use, leukocytosis, tachycardia, body mass index < 25 kg/m
CONCLUSION: The decision rule developed and validated in this study provides a standardized, evidenced-based approach to determine the need for blood cultures based on bacteremia risk.
PubMed ID
30783995
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
