Reduction in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation: impact of a screening and decolonisation...

Area of Science:

• Infection Prevention and Control
• Public Health
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Care home residents represent a high-risk population for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization.
• MRSA reservoirs in long-term care facilities can contribute to community and hospital-acquired infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of MRSA in Wolverhampton care homes.
• To evaluate the impact of systematic MRSA screening and decolonisation interventions on prevalence.
• To assess the effect of these interventions on MRSA rates within the wider healthcare system.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional screening of 1665 residents across 82 care homes in Wolverhampton.
• Three screening phases conducted at 6-month intervals.
• Implementation of MRSA screening and decolonisation protocols for identified MRSA-colonised residents.

Main Results:

• Initial MRSA prevalence was 8.7% in phase one.
• Prevalence decreased to 6.3% in phase two and 4.7% in phase three following interventions.
• Care homes identified as significant reservoirs for MRSA.

Conclusions:

• Systematic MRSA screening and decolonisation effectively reduce MRSA prevalence in care home settings.
• Interventions decrease the risk of MRSA transmission to residents undergoing medical procedures.
• Care home-based MRSA control strategies can indirectly lower MRSA rates in acute healthcare trusts.