136 MRSA-positive patients were randomly selected and analyzed for risk factors for MRSA colonization. The mean age was 67.3 years (77.1% ≥ 60 years old) and average length of stay was 19 days. Among the 136, patients, 14% had urinary catheter, 38.2% diabetes, 17.6% malignancy, 5.1% chronic kidney disease and 14/7% had skin ulcer. 48 MRSA-negative patients were randomly selected and analysed as a control group. The mean age was 57.9 years and average length of stay was 13.6 days. Among the 48 patients, 4.2% had urinary catheter, 20.8% diabetes, 14.6% malignancy, 4.2% chronic kidney disease and 6.3% had skin ulcer.
Significant risk factors for MRSA colonization at admission included residence in a long term care facility, previous MRSA infection or colonization and diabetes mellitus. The majority of MRSA-positive patients were >60 years and had prolonged hospitalization.