Study: Drug-resistant infections increasing in U.S. hospitals

EVANSTON, IL -- August 5, 2003

Drug resistance among strep infections nearly tripled between 1997-2002

A new study finds the number of both streptococcal and staphylococcal infections resistant to antibiotics nearly tripled between 1997 and 2002 in U.S. hospitals. About 4.3 percent of inpatient strep infections and 28.1 percent of inpatient staph infections were considered drug resistant by mid-year 2002.

The findings are published in a report released today by Solucient. More than two million inpatient discharge records from 2,800 U.S. hospitals were analyzed for the study. Evanston, IL-based Solucient develops health care information databases and decision support software for providers, insurance companies, employers, and pharmaceutical companies.

The number of inpatient strep infection cases reported as drug-resistant increased from 1.35 percent in the first quarter of 1997 to 4.28 percent by mid-2002. And over 28 percent of inpatient staph cases were reported as drug resistant in second quarter 2002, rising from 9.94 percent in the first quarter of 1997.

"Our hospital-specific study confirms recent reports that show an increase in drug-resistant strep and staph bacteria overall," said Dave Foster, PhD, MPH, vice president of Clinical Informatics at Solucient. A December 2000 study published by the New England Journal of Medicine looked at the growth of drug-resistant strep infections in the United States.

Several species of streptococcal bacteria exist, causing a variety of illnesses. Perhaps most familiar is "strep throat," caused by Group A strep, which is typically easy to treat. However, other species of streptococci cause potentially life-threatening diseases, such as pneumonia and wound infections. Antibiotic resistance is a significant problem in treating illness caused by these species of strep.

Two species of staphylococcal bacteria that cause disease are Staphylococcus aureus and Stapylococcus epidermidis. Staph aureus causes a variety of serious infections, including post-operative wound infections, endocarditis (infection of heart valves), and osteomyelitis (infection of bone). Staph epidermidis causes infections of foreign devices placed in the body, such as prostheses used to replace hip or knee joints, which can then spread to surrounding tissue. Both Staph aureus and Staph epidermidis have developed considerable antibiotic resistance.

"Our findings clearly show the importance of the health care industry's continued efforts to control the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria," Foster said. "For health care professionals, awareness of the problem, communication to increase understanding among patients and consumers, and appropriate use of antibiotics are essential steps."

Media Note: The new Solucient report, Solucient Analysis: Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcal and Streptococcal Infections in U.S. Inpatient Populations, is available in PDF form by e-mailing tlopez@solucient.com.

About Solucient

Solucient is the leading source of health care business intelligence. Its mission is to provide comprehensive, results-oriented information to drive business growth, manage costs, and deliver quality care. Solucient's expertise and proven solutions enable providers, payers, employers, and pharmaceutical companies to achieve results and realize value. By bridging the gap between data and information, knowledge and value, Solucient drives intelligent business decisions. For more information, visit the Solucient Web site at www.solucient.com.