In 2013–14, 1,621 cases of hospital-associated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) were reported in Australian public hospitals.

Overview

SAB is a serious bloodstream infection that may be associated with hospital care. Hospitals aim to have as few cases as possible.

The nationally agreed benchmark is no more than 2.0 SAB cases per 10,000 days of patient care for acute care public hospitals in each state and territory.

In 2013-14:

• the national rate of SAB in public hospitals was 0.87 cases per 10,000 days of patient care
• rates differed among the states and territories, but all jurisdictions had rates below the national benchmark
• 1,621 cases of SAB were reported
• 3 in 4 cases were treatable with commonly used antibiotics
  -methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) cases
• 1 in 4 cases was antibiotic resistant- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cases.