Adherence to a care bundle for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia is associated with high hospital mortality. Improvements in outcome have been described with standardised bundles of care.

Objectives: To study the adherence of a standardised bundle of care (BOC) recommendations using a consultation pro forma, for all patients admitted with S. aureus bacteraemia to Groote Schuur Hospital over a year. The study further aimed to describe the 90-day mortality in these patients and to assess for an association between adherence to the bundle of care and outcome.

Method: A retrospective audit of all unsolicited infectious disease consultations for patients with S. aureus bacteraemia admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital during 2018. Adherence to recommendations of a standard bundle of care was audited.

Results: A total of 86 patients were included in the study: 61 (71%) with hospital-associated infection and 25 (29%) with community-associated infection. Over 80% of adherence to treatment recommendations was achieved regarding antibiotic (including vancomycin) usage, source control and use of echocardiography as required. In-hospital mortality was 16%, while the overall 90-day mortality was 18%, with only age as an independent predictor of mortality. No association between adherence to the bundle of care and outcome was found.

Conclusion: Adherence to a simple, structured bundle of care was good when using standardised pro forma as communication tools for advice and a structured antibiotic chart for vancomycin administration. Although adherence was not associated with outcome, the overall mortality for S. aureus bacteraemia was improving in the institution under study.

Contribution: Our findings support feasibility and ongoing use of bundles of care for S. aureus bacteraemia in similar settings.