Association between vitamin D deficiency and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection

Infection. 2015 Dec;43(6):715-22. doi: 10.1007/s15010-015-0815-5. Epub 2015 Jul 4.

Abstract

Purpose: Given that vitamin D (25(OH)D) contributes to immune defense, we sought to determine if deficiency of 25(OH)D was significantly associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.

Methods: All patients with 25(OH)D determinations at the Atlanta VAMC from 2007 to 2010 were included in the analyses. These patients were cross-referenced with a prospectively collected MRSA infection database at the AVAMC (2006-2010). Patients with one or more MRSA infections during the study period were considered MRSA-infected patients. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between 25(OH)D status [deficient (<20 ng/mL) vs. non-deficient (≥20 ng/mL)] and MRSA infection.

Results: A total of 6405 patients with 25(OH)D determinations were included in the analyses, of which 401 (6.3 %) were MRSA-infected patients. Mean (SD) vitamin D levels, in ng/mL, were 21.1 (12.4) and 24.0 (12.6) for MRSA-infected patients and non-MRSA infected patients, respectively (p < 0.0001). The multivariate logistic regression model confirmed associations between MRSA infection and sex, race, BMI, HIV status, and 25(OH)D [odds ratio for 25(OH)D: 1.94; 95 % confidence interval: 1.51-2.49].

Conclusion: MRSA-infected patients had significantly lower serum vitamin D levels than non-MRSA infected patients, even when controlling for potential confounding variables.

Keywords: MRSA infection; Staphyloccoccus aureus; Veteran population; Vitamin D deficiency.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications*