Objectives:

Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection (BSI) is common amongst patients on renal dialysis and serious complications may follow. Beaumont Hospital houses the national renal transplant unit and all patients with S. aureus BSI are clinically reviewed by the microbiology team.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of the incidence, source and outcome of S. aureus BSI was carried out on renal dialysis patients from January 1998 to December 2003 using clinical records and the laboratory database. Antibiotic susceptibilities, source and outcome were recorded for each isolate.

Results:

There were 185 patient episodes between January 1998 and December 2002. A total of 400 blood cultures yielded S. aureus; of which 41% (n = 236) were resistant to methicillin. By comparison 38% of all BSI isolates of S. aureus in our hospital were methicillin resistant in 2002. The majority (85%) of renal patient episodes were secondary to catheter-related sepsis. Complications were documented in 19% of episodes, infective endocarditis (40%) being the most common. 4% (n = 7) of patients died. The data for 2003 is currently being updated.

Conclusions:

Staphylococcus aureus BSI is common amongst renal dialysis patients; infective endocarditis is a significant complication but the mortality is low. Interventions to reduce the incidence are a priority in this compromised patient group.