[Multidrug resistant bacteria in a psychiatric milieu]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

• Multiple-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria pose a significant threat in healthcare settings.
• Psychiatric care facilities require specific attention for infection control due to patient populations.
• Understanding MDR strain prevalence is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the isolation rates of MDR bacteria in a psychiatric care facility.
• To identify the predominant MDR bacterial species and their resistance patterns.
• To inform infection control strategies in psychiatric care settings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of bacterial isolates over a six-year period.
• Identification and characterization of MDR bacterial strains.
• Calculation of isolation rates and resistance percentages for key species.

Main Results:

• 66 MDR bacterial strains were isolated over six years.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounted for 50% of MDR strains.
• 22% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 4.1% of Enterobacteriaceae strains exhibited MDR characteristics.

Conclusions:

• Psychiatric care facilities harbor significant MDR bacterial strains, including MRSA.
• While external acquisition is likely, patient-to-patient transmission cannot be excluded.
• Implementing MDR strain monitoring strategies used in general hospitals is recommended for psychiatric facilities.