Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Aug 6:87551225251359508.
doi: 10.1177/87551225251359508. Online ahead of print.

Impact of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal PCR Versus Culture on Vancomycin Utilization in Pneumonia Management

Surafel G Mulugeta  1 , Shivani Kantharia  1 , Michael P Veve  1   2 , Shaina Vincent  1 , Amy Beaulac  1 , Nisha Patel  1
Affiliations

Impact of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal PCR Versus Culture on Vancomycin Utilization in Pneumonia Management

Surafel G Mulugeta et al. J Pharm Technol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia (PNA) can be ruled out via methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) nasal screening, facilitating the de-escalation of empiric anti-MRSA agents like intravenous vancomycin. This study evaluated the impact of transitioning from culture to PCR-based MRSA nasal screening in patients with PNA. Methods: This Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved retrospective quasi-experimental study was conducted at a 5-hospital system and included adult, nonpregnant hospitalized patients from September to December 2021 ("culture group") and September to December 2022 ("PCR group") and diagnosed with PNA. Exclusion criteria were ventilator-acquired PNA or positive MRSA respiratory culture. The primary endpoint was the number of vancomycin levels obtained. Secondary endpoints were vancomycin duration as well as acute kidney injury (AKI) and all-cause 30-day readmission rates. Results: Two-hundred patients were included: 100 in each group. Baseline characteristics were similar. There were 117 vancomycin levels obtained: 67 (67) and 50 (50) in the culture and PCR group, respectively (P = .021). Median vancomycin duration was 50% shorter in the PCR group: 2 days (1-3) versus 3 days (2-4), P < .001. After adjusting for confounders, the culture group was more likely to have vancomycin levels obtained compared to the PCR group: adjusted odd ratio (aOR) (95% confidence interval [CI])] = 1.833 (1.016-3.309). Long-term obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with reduced risk of ordering vancomycin levels: aOR [95% CI] = 0.426 (0.218-0.831). Readmission and AKI rates were comparable. Conclusion: Transitioning from culture to PCR-based MRSA nasal screening significantly reduced vancomycin levels obtained from patients and shortened vancomycin duration without negatively impacting patient outcome.

Keywords: MRSA; PCR; culture; swab; vancomycin.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Distribution of vancomycin orders at PTMT-25-0060: Total 117 orders analyzed, with 67 in culture and 50 by PCR, showing varying levels of vancomycin ordered.
Figure 1.
Proportion of vancomycin levels ordered_PMT-25-0060.
This pie chart in Clinicians vancomycin level ordering patterns_PMT-25-0060. illustrates the percentages of different healthcare providers ordering vancomycin.
Figure 2.
Clinicians’ vancomycin level ordering patterns_PMT-25-0060.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Hayes BH, Haberling DL, Kennedy JL, Varma JK, Fry AM, Vora NM. Burden of pneumonia-associated hospitalizations. Chest. 2018;153(2):427-437. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2017.09.041 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Dunaway S, Orwig KW, Arbogast ZQ, Myers ZL, Sizemore JA, Giancola SE. Evaluation of a pharmacy-driven methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance protocol in pneumonia. Int J Clin Pharm. 2018;40(3):526-532. doi: 10.1007/s11096-018-0647-3 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Marinucci V, Louzon PR, Carr AL, Hayes J, Lopez-Ruiz A, Sniffen J. Pharmacist-driven methicillin-resistant S. aureus polymerase chain reaction testing for pneumonia. Ann Pharmacother. 2023;57(5):560-569. doi: 10.1177/10600280221121144 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Meng L, Pourali S, Hitchcock MM, et al. Discontinuation patterns and cost avoidance of a pharmacist-driven methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal polymerase chain reaction testing protocol for de-escalation of empiric vancomycin for suspected pneumonia. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(4):ofab099. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab099 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Evans W, Paciullo K, Trible R. Pharmacist-driven methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening protocol and the impact on vancomycin exposure in hospitalized patients with pneumonia. J Am Coll Clin Pharm. 2021;4(12):1548-1553. doi: 10.1002/jac5.1530 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources