• Arch G Mainous, Benjamin J Rooks, and Peter J Carek.
• From the Department of Health Services Research, Management and Policy, University of Florida (AGM); Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida (AGM, BJR, PJC). arch.mainous@ufl.edu.
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2021 Mar 1; 34 (2): 439-441.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to assess the 11-year mortality risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in community-dwelling adults aged 40 to 85 years.MethodsThe study analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004 linked to the National Death Index through December 31, 2015. Our cohort of community adults aged 40 to 85 years was 6085 participants (representing 118 718 486 adults). Mortality risk from MRSA colonization was examined with an 11-year follow-up.ResultsThe 11-year mortality rates were 35.9% (95% CI, 25.4%- 46.4%) for MRSA-colonized and 17.8% (95% CI, 16.4%- 19.2%) for non-colonized participants. After adjusting for potential confounders the hazard ratio for mortality among those colonized with MRSA was 1.75 (95% CI, 1.12-2.73).DiscussionMRSA colonization in middle-aged and older adults in the community is associated with a significantly increased mortality risk. Considering that this effect was in the community and not in hospitalized patients, this finding of increased mortality risk is especially troubling.© Copyright 2021 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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