Abstract
An elderly lady was admitted to hospital for elective resection of an adenocarcinoma of the colon. Following an anastomotic leak she developed intra-abdominal sepsis and underwent abdominal drainage of pus. During recovery from her second operation, she developed pneumonia and a bacteraemia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She was treated with vancomycin and co-trimoxazole and survived without further sequelae. Details of the development and treatment of this case are discussed. Procedures for the control and eradication of MRSA infections in hospitals are reviewed.
MeSH terms
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Adenocarcinoma / surgery
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Aged
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Bacteremia / drug therapy
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Bacteremia / etiology
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Colonic Neoplasms / surgery
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Cross Infection / prevention & control
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Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
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Female
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Humans
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Methicillin Resistance
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Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / drug therapy
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Pneumonia, Staphylococcal / etiology
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Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
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Postoperative Complications / microbiology*
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Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
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Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
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Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
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Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control
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Staphylococcus aureus*
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Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use
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Vancomycin / therapeutic use
Substances
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Vancomycin
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Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination