Association between microbial characteristics and poor outcomes among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) pneumonia is associated with poor clinical outcomes. This study examined the association between microbial characteristics and poor outcomes among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. FINDINGS: This retrospective cohort study included 75 patients with MRSA pneumonia who were admitted to two large tertiary care medical centers during 2003–2010. Multivariable models were created using Cox proportional hazards regression and ordinal logistic regression to identify predictors of mortality or increased length of stay (LOS). None of the microbial characteristics (PFGE type, agr dysfunction, SCCmec type, and detection of PVL, ACME, and TSST-1) were significantly associated with 30-day mortality or post-infection hospital length of stay, after adjusting for gender, age, previous hospital admission within 12 months, previous MRSA infection or colonization, positive influenza test, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and treatment (linezolid or vancomycin). CONCLUSION: Large prospective studies are needed to examine the impact of microbial characteristics on the risk of death and other adverse outcomes among patients with MRSA pneumonia. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13756-015-0092-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.