Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: Compliance with Standard Treatment, Long-term Outcome and Predictors of Relapse

The long-term outcome of compliance with standard treatment recommendations for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia was assessed. Cases of S. aureus bacteremia at our institution over a 2-y period were reviewed and follow-up performed by review of subsequent admissions or contact with primary care physicians. We encountered 226 cases (age 64.7±15.8 y) and most (171/226, 75.7%) had no removable source. In-hospital mortality rate was 32.7% (74/226). Follow-up of 104/152 (68.4%) survivors (for 386.7±449.8 d) revealed 23.1% (24/104) relapses: recurrent bacteremia (n=19), distant site (n=3) and local recurrence (n=2). Most relapses (21/24; 87.5%) occurred within 90 d of therapy. Relapse rate was higher with vancomycin treatment (20/48 vs. 4/56; p