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Georgia Southern University

Epidemiology of Hospital Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit: Fiscal Years 2008-2011

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The purpose of this retrospective case-control study was to assess risk factors contributing to hospital acquired methicillin <em>Staphylococcus aureus </em>(HA-MRSA) and gain a better understanding of the burden of HA-MRSA infection in patients with spinal cord injuries. The study was also conducted to see if new information would be found on HA-MRSA infections and validate or refute current research for patients in a dedicated spinal cord injury unit at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. During the study period, the infection control department identified 95 cases of HA-MRSA. Additional data retrospectively collected were basic demographics, admitting diagnosis, presence of varying comorbidities, ASIA score, presence of indwelling medical device, BMI, LOS, MRSA colonization, and quarterly hand hygiene compliance. The patient population was described using appropriate univariate descriptive statistics and crude odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated. The most common sources of infection for cases were ulcer related (31.6%), from skin and soft tissue infections besides pressure ulcers (23.2%), 14.7% were Foley catheter related, 8.4% were blood stream infections and 22.1% were from other sites/sources. Assessment of risk factors for HA-MRSA for spinal cord injury patients in this study found that colonization (OR: 3), device use (Foley OR: 3.3, PICC OR: 39.4, use of both OR: 21.1) , paralysis (1.9), ASIA score A (OR: 4.5), amputee (OR: 3.5), decubitus ulcer (OR: 7.1), length of hospital stay > 30 days (OR: 17.1) and a hand hygiene compliance</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Public Health in Community Health Behavior and Education (Dr.P.H.)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation (open access)
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health
Year dc:date.available
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Stone, Rebecca B.
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Robert L. Vogel, Ph.D
  • Claire Robb, Ph.D.
  • Stephanie Baer, MD

Subjects

dc:subject × 11

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/872
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1876

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Georgia Southern University
Base URL
digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Stone, Rebecca B.. Epidemiology of Hospital Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in A Veterans Affairs Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Unit: Fiscal Years 2008-2011. Dissertation (open access) thesis, 2013. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/872