The Scottish enhanced Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia surveillance programme: the first 18 months of data in children.

BACKGROUND: National enhanced surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) commenced on 1st October 2014 to gain a more in-depth understanding of the epidemiology of SAB in Scotland. Children under 16 years of age were analysed separately from adults because previous studies had demonstrated epidemiological differences. AIM: To identify risk factors and patient populations at greatest risk to enable the development of focused improvement plans. METHODS: All National Health Service (NHS) boards within NHS Scotland take part in the mandatory enhanced surveillance, with data collected by trained data collectors using nationally agreed definitions. FINDINGS: Analysis of the first 18 months of data showed that hospital-acquired SAB was mostly associated with neonates with device risk factors, whereas community-associated SAB was found in older children who had few, if any, risk factors and most presented with a bone or joint infection. CONCLUSION: The enhanced SAB data highlighted the difference in risk factors and entry points for the acquisition of SAB within the paediatric population.