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. 2019 May;25(5):875-882.
doi: 10.3201/eid2505.181733.

Age-Dependent Increase in Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia, Denmark, 2008-2015

Louise Thorlacius-Ussing, Haakon Sandholdt, Anders Rhod Larsen, Andreas Petersen, Thomas Benfield

Age-Dependent Increase in Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia, Denmark, 2008-2015

Louise Thorlacius-Ussing et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 May.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a major cause of illness and death worldwide. We analyzed temporal trends of SAB incidence and death in Denmark during 2008-2015. SAB incidence increased 48%, from 20.76 to 30.37 per 100,000 person-years, during this period (p<0.001). The largest change in incidence was observed for persons >80 years of age: a 90% increase in the SAB rate (p<0.001). After adjusting for demographic changes, annual rates increased 4.0% (95% CI 3.0-5.0) for persons <80 years of age, 8.4% (95% CI 7.0-11.0) for persons 80-89 years of age, and 13.0% (95% CI 9.0-17.5) for persons >90 years of age. The 30-day case-fatality rate remained stable at 24%; crude population death rates increased by 53% during 2008-2015 (p<0.001). Specific causes and mechanisms for this rapid increase in SAB incidence among the elderly population remain to be clarified.

Keywords: Denmark; Staphylococcus aureus; aging; bacteremia; bacteria; elderly; epidemiology; incidence; population; staphylococci.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temporal changes in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia incidence (cases per 100,000 person-years), by age group and years, Denmark, 2008–2015.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Increase in incidence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia for persons >80 years of age compared with younger persons, Denmark, 2008–2015.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia deaths, Denmark, 2008–2015. A) Overall population death rate and 30-day CFR. B) Population death rates for persons >80 years of age compared with younger persons. PY, person-years.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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