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Role of infection control measures in limiting morbidity associated with multi-resistant organisms in critically ill

B Souweine1, O Traore, B Aublet-Cuvelier

  • 1Service de Réanimation Médicale Polyvalente, Clermont-Ferrand, France.

Insights

Implementing infection control measures significantly reduced methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPESBL) infections in ICUs. However, these measures did not impact multi-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes (MREA) infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Intensive care units (ICUs) are high-risk environments for multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization and infection.
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae producing transferable extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (KPESBL), and multi-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes (MREA) are significant pathogens in ICUs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of implemented infection control measures (ICMs) on MRSA, KPESBL, and MREA colonization and infection rates in ICU patients.
  • To assess the impact of ICMs on antibiotic consumption and costs within the ICU setting.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective comparative study analyzing data from two consecutive one-year periods: before (Period 1) and after (Period 2) the implementation of ICMs.
  • ICMs included surveillance cultures, isolation procedures, and mupirocin for MRSA nasal carriage.
  • Patient colonization and infection rates, as well as antibiotic consumption, were compared between the two periods.

Main Results:

  • Overall rates of patients infected or colonized by at least one of the three target organisms decreased significantly from 15% in Period 1 to 6.8% in Period 2 (P=0.001).
  • MRSA rates showed a significant reduction in both colonization/infection (7.7% to 2.6%, P=0.004) and infection (P=0.018).
  • KPESBL rates decreased non-significantly, while MREA rates showed no significant change in colonization/infection or infection rates between periods. Antibiotic costs decreased from £98.7 to £62.7.

Conclusions:

  • Implemented infection control measures were effective in controlling MRSA and KPESBL colonization and infections in the ICU.
  • ICMs did not demonstrate a significant impact on MREA colonization or infection rates.
  • The study highlights the differential effectiveness of specific ICMs against various multidrug-resistant organisms and suggests a potential reduction in antibiotic use and associated costs.

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