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Control of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
K A Murray-Leisure1, S Geib, D Graceley
1Department of Medicine, Lebanon Veterans' Administration Medical Center, PA 17042.
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|July 1, 1990
Summary
Implementing a strategy of cohorting patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and screening new admissions significantly reduced MRSA infections. This infection control approach proved effective in a large healthcare setting.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Healthcare-Associated Infections
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings, leading to difficult-to-treat infections.
- Controlling epidemic MRSA spread requires robust infection control strategies within large veteran facilities.
Observation:
- MRSA infection control was implemented by cohorting known carriers and infected patients onto a single nursing unit.
- Simultaneous screening of all previously-institutionalized admissions for MRSA via swab cultures was initiated.
- MRSA patients were managed with contact or strict isolation and aggressive topical/enteral antibiotic treatment.
Findings:
- The monthly incidence of new MRSA cases decreased from a maximum of 16 to three or fewer within six months.
- No further cases of MRSA bacteremia were observed after the implementation of the MRSA cohort unit.
- Aggressive cohort management and admission screening effectively controlled epidemic MRSA.
Implications:
- This study demonstrates a successful, scalable model for controlling MRSA outbreaks in large healthcare institutions.
- The findings support the integration of targeted patient cohorting and admission screening as key infection control measures.
- Effective MRSA management can reduce patient morbidity and healthcare-associated costs.