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Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in older people: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.
- Source :
-
Acta clinica Belgica [Acta Clin Belg] 2019 Dec; Vol. 74 (6), pp. 456-459. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Nov 16. - Publication Year :
- 2019
-
Abstract
- Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death in older people, with high mortality rates (> 80%). One of the bacterial pathogens causing pneumonia is Staphylococcus aureus. The unique adaptive ability of S. aureus to a broad range of antibiotics has led to the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain. MRSA pneumonia remains a relatively uncommon infection in older people, but it is associated with a very high mortality rate. We report two cases of MRSA pneumonia that highlight the severe clinical presentation and virulence of MRSA infections in geriatric population. MRSA pneumonia can present with mostly an uncontrollable clinical evolution and an infaust prognosis. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of MRSA pneumonia in patients with comorbidities, recent hospitalization with antibiotic treatment, previous MRSA infections and also in patients residing in nursing homes/revalidation centers. Low prevalence of MRSA combined with a lack of highly distinctive clinical features makes accurate targeting of empirical treatment with antibiotics very difficult. Currently, monotherapy with linezolid or vancomycin remain the first choice, in adult patients with proven MRSA infection. Despite the higher age related mortality rates, there are no specific treatment guidelines for older patients.
- Subjects :
- Aged, 80 and over
Anti-Bacterial Agents administration & dosage
Anti-Bacterial Agents classification
Blood Culture methods
Diagnosis, Differential
Fatal Outcome
Humans
Male
Needs Assessment
Nursing Homes
Patient Selection
Prognosis
Risk Factors
Time-to-Treatment
Cross Infection microbiology
Cross Infection physiopathology
Cross Infection therapy
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolation & purification
Pneumonia, Staphylococcal diagnosis
Pneumonia, Staphylococcal microbiology
Pneumonia, Staphylococcal physiopathology
Pneumonia, Staphylococcal therapy
Vancomycin administration & dosage
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2295-3337
- Volume :
- 74
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Acta clinica Belgica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30444192
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/17843286.2018.1547854