Fatal bacteraemic pneumonia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Chua AP, Lee KH
Correspondence: Dr Chua Ai Ping, chuaaiping@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
The recent worldwide surge in the incidence of fatal pneumonia caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has generated renewed interest in this well-known organism. We describe two cases of fulminant bacteraemic pneumonia due to CA-MRSA at the National University Hospital in Singapore and provide further epidemiological descriptors of this potentially-deadly disease. The first patient was an 83-year-old woman while the second was a 71-year-old man, none of whom had risk factors for hospital-acquired MRSA colonisation. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of severe community-acquired pneumonia caused by this organism. Adequate empirical antimicrobial coverage for this important pathogen should be considered.

Keywords: bacteraemic pneumonia, community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus
Singapore Med J 2006; 47(6): 546-548