Evaluation of contact precautions for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Infection Control

Background:

• Limited data exist on the effectiveness of contact precautions (CPs) in preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in endemic hospital settings.
• This study investigates the impact of discontinuing CPs for MRSA and VRE on infection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of discontinuing contact precautions on hospital-acquired MRSA and VRE infections.
• To determine if removing CPs for MRSA and VRE impacts infection rates in an endemic setting.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study was conducted at an 800-bed teaching hospital in Detroit.
• Contact precautions for MRSA and VRE were discontinued hospital-wide in 2013.
• Infection rates (CAUTI, VAP, CLABSI, SSI, HA-MRSAB) were compared before and after the discontinuation of CPs.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant changes were observed in MRSA infection rates, including VAP, CLABSI, SSI, and CAUTI, after CPs were discontinued.
• VRE CAUTI and CLABSI rates showed no significant adverse impact following the discontinuation of CPs.
• Hospital-acquired MRSA bacteremia rates remained stable after the removal of contact precautions.

Conclusions:

• The discontinuation of contact precautions for MRSA and VRE did not adversely affect endemic infection rates.
• These findings suggest that CPs may not be necessary for MRSA and VRE in all endemic hospital settings.