Australia’s major public hospitals reported a disproportionate number (over 80%) of the 1,724 cases of potentially deadly healthcare-associated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bloodstream infections in 2012–13.
A new report released today by the National Health Performance Authority, which covers both antibiotic-treatable and antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus, shows big differences in the rate of infections contracted by patients in hospital.
S. aureus, commonly known as ‘Golden Staph’, is a bacterium often found on the skin of healthy people and is relatively harmless unless it causes infection. Most cases can be treated by antibiotics. However, there are more serious antibiotic-resistant strains. Estimates suggest 20 to 35% of people who experience healthcare-associated S. aureus bloodstream infections die from this or a related cause.
The report allocates hospitals into four peer groups to enable fair reporting comparisons (‘major hospitals’ with more vulnerable patients, ‘major hospitals’ with fewer vulnerable patients, ‘large hospitals’ with more vulnerable patients and ‘large hospitals’ with fewer vulnerable patients):
- In ‘major hospitals’ with more ‘vulnerable’ patients (which include patients who undergo more invasive treatments and procedures) the rate of infection per 10,000 patient bed days was three times higher at some hospitals compared to others – 1.93 (65 reported cases) at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (Qld) compared to 0.53 (10 reported cases) at Prince Charles Hospital (Qld)
- In ‘major hospitals’ with fewer ‘vulnerable’ patients the rate of infection per 10,000 patient bed days was 11 times higher at some hospitals compared to others – 2.29 (17 reported cases) at Port Macquarie Hospital (NSW) compared to just 0.20 (two reported cases) at Alice Springs Hospital (NT).
Performance Authority CEO Dr Diane Watson said there had been a decrease in the number of healthcare-associated S. aureus bloodstream infections in some ‘major hospitals’ from 2011–12.
“It is important to remember that every case of healthcare-associated S. aureus bloodstream infection is potentially preventable,” Dr Watson said.
“Through our reporting, hospitals can see how they compare with their peers and have a clear benchmark to measure progress over time.”
The government-agreed target calls for a rate of no more than 2.0 healthcare-associated
S. aureus bloodstream infections per 10,000 patient bed days for each state and territory. The vast majority of public hospitals in 2012–13 had rates less than 2.0.
