Occupational Infection Risk with Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Health Personnel-A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Occupational Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a significant public health challenge, contributing to hospital-acquired infections, prolonged hospital stays, increased costs, and mortality.
• While methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is well-known, Gram-negative bacteria and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are also critical concerns.
• Knowledge gaps exist among healthcare staff regarding occupational risks associated with MDROs, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and determine the occupational risks for healthcare employees exposed to multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs).
• To synthesize existing research on MDRO prevalence and infection risks among healthcare personnel.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of studies published from 2000 onwards was conducted.
• The review included primarily cross-sectional studies focusing on healthcare personnel with MDRO contact in hospital or geriatric settings.
• Data heterogeneity was noted across 22 included studies regarding participant numbers, examination methods, control groups, and study quality.

Main Results:

• Prevalence rates varied significantly across studies: extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria (2.6-48.5%), VRE (0-9.6%), and MRSA (0.9-14.5%).
• The most frequently studied pathogens were ESBL-producing bacteria, VRE, and MRSA.
• Few high-quality studies were identified, limiting the ability to compare findings effectively.

Conclusions:

• There is a need for more robust, high-quality research to accurately assess and describe the occupational infection risks posed by MDROs to healthcare service employees.
• Current data is limited and heterogeneous, hindering definitive conclusions about the extent of occupational risk from various MDROs.