Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in Palmerston North Hospital, New Zealand during 2017-2020. Is ethnicity having an impact?
Dr Dalilah Restrepo1, Dr. Nikita Jain1, RN Lorraine Rees1
1Midcentral District Health Board, Palmerston North , New Zealand
We aim to assess the trend in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in hospitalised patients by ethnicity.
Results:
(Tables/numbers pending with statistician- will be submitted separately- shortly post deadline if permitted)
Preliminary data appears to show an increase in rising incidence in the total number of Staphylococcus aureus blood-stream infections but with lower incidence among Maori and Pacific Peoples. This was a surprising finding given the conclusion of several other studies showing the incidence of invasive and noninvasive S. aureus infections is reportedly higher In New Zealand than in other developed countries; with the highest rates seen among Māori (indigenous New Zealanders) and Pacific Peoples. *1
Conclusion:
The incident numbers within the cohort were too low to provide generalisation for targeted action. Improvement in data quality noting ethnicity for clinical specimens would support more efficient data collection, analysis and targeted interventions.
We feel many of the small provisional hospitals may have similar issues with data collection leading to low reporting and underreporting of cases which further adds to inequities in care.
Biography:
Dr Nikita Jain is an advanced medical registrar at MidCentral district Health Board in New Zealand. She graduated BiomedSci and MBchB from University of Otago in 2015. She has a keen interest in Infectious Diseases in the Immunocompromised Host.