We investigated whether injecting drug use was a risk factor for methicillin resistance among inpatients with Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections (SABSIs) at an Australian health service. In 273 inpatients, 46 (16.9%) of SABSIs were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). MRSA was more frequent in those who had injected drugs in the past 6 months (20.6%) compared with other inpatients (15.7%). Injecting drug use was associated with a 4.82-fold (95% confidence interval = 1.54-16.29) increased odds of MRSA after accounting for confounders.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; bloodstream infection; drug resistance; hospitalisation; substance‐related disorders.
© 2024 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.