Are healthcare economics a factor behind European MRSA rates?

This study assessed the relationship between meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence in 26 European countries with two key socioeconomic parameters, namely, gross domestic product per capita (GDP) and infant mortality rate (IMR). Whilst no significant relationship was identified between MRSA and GDP (Spearman correlation: -0.387; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.674 to 0.000; p = 0.0528), a significant correlation was evident between MRSA and IMR (Spearman correlation: 0.545; 95% CI: 0.208 to 0.766; p = 0.005). The elimination of a widely outlying data point retained significance. Various studies have shown IMR to be a good marker of healthcare expenditure and it is, therefore, reasonable to postulate that one possible factor in the multi-factorial epidemiology of MRSA in Europe is the level and effectiveness of healthcare expenditure within the individual countries.