Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society

Year 2021, Volume 33, Issue 3, Pages 6-15

https://doi.org/10.26715/jbms.33_2021_3_2

Original Article

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Staphylococcal Bacteremia in Bahrain

Safaa Al Khawaja1*, Nermin Kamal Saeed2, Mahmood Al Awainati3

Author Affiliation

1Senior Consultant Infection Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Salmaniya Medical
Complex, Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
2Head of Microbiology Section, Pathology Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
3Department of Family Medicine, Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.


*Corresponding author:
Safaa Al Khawaja, Senior Consultant Infection Disease Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. PO Box 12; Tel.: (973) 66331213, E-mail: Safaaalkhawaja@gmail.com, Skhawaja@health.gov.bh

Received date: April 19, 2021; Accepted date: June 8, 2021; Published date: September 30, 2021


Abstract

Background and Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a significant health problem with high morbidity & mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of SAB in Bahrain along with withs clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Methods: This study was conducted at Salmaniya medical complex (SMC) microbiology laboratory including all patients with SAB for one year period (2019). Demographic, lab data & outcomes were obtained from the electronic record system of patients.

Results: A total of 164 episodes of SAB were identified during the study period. About 137 were encountered among inpatients, while 27 cases among outpatients attending hemodialysis unit. Bahraini nationality & male gender were predominant (141, 85.98% & 108, 65.85% respectively). Nosocomial SAB accounts for only 29.37%, while the majority of SAB cases were of community-onset (116, 70.37%), but among such community-onset cases; 83 (50.61% of total) were of health care-associated category (56 had prior hospitalization and 27 were on regular dialysis). Among all patients with SAB, diabetes was the commonest risk factor encountered, followed by dialysis dependence and sickle cell diseases (SCD). Mortality rate was 25.6% (42 patients). Among the 122 survivors of the initial SAB episode, recurrence of bacteremia was documented among 26 cases (21.3%).

Conclusion: SAB was a significant health problem among the Bahraini. Diabetes Mellitus, SCD and dialysis dependence were found to be important risk factors. Recurrence of bacteremia was a common complication among the patient’s dependant on hemodialysis

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacteremia, Nosocomial, Community onset, Hemodialysis