Factors and Outcome in Cancer Patients with Bacteremia caused by Methicillin- susceptible (MSSA) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a Specialized Cancer Centre in Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a serious public health problem worldwide being an important concern for hospital infection-control programs. Gram-positive organisms are also important causes of invasive infections among cancer patients.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Lahore in patients diagnosed to have cancer, who developed bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), admitted between
June 2006 to June 2016. We analyzed different demographic, clinical and laboratory factors such as age, comorbidities, the
type of cancer and the absolute neutrophil count on outcome of these patients.

Results: A total of 187 patients with cancer and S. aureus bacteremia were included, of which MSSA was in 123 (65.8%) of the
patients while 64 (34.2%) had MRSA bacteremia. More than half of total study patients 111 (59.4%) had hematological
malignancies. On analysis of potential outcomes of bacteremia a greater proportion of those with MRSA bacteremia died but
the difference did not reach statistical significance. Age, comorbidities, the type of cancer and the absolute neutrophil
count on outcome of these patients did not have significant impact on outcome.
Conclusion: In patients with cancer and S. aureus bacteremia, demographic, clinical and laboratory factors did not impact outcome in those with methicillin sensitive versus methicillin resistant bacteremia. However, MRSA bacteremia may be associated with a higher likelihood of mortality.

Key words: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, MRSA, Cancer