Routine antiseptic baths and MRSA decolonization: diverse approaches across Singapore's acute-care hospitals

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management
• Microbiology

Background:

• Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant healthcare challenge.
• Standardized surveillance and management protocols are crucial for controlling MRSA spread in acute care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess variations in MRSA surveillance and management practices among 17 acute healthcare facilities in Singapore.
• To identify differences in the response to MRSA surveillance swabs and decolonization strategies.

Main Methods:

• A sharing session was convened by the Ministry of Health with Infection Prevention and Control Leads from 17 acute healthcare facilities.
• Practices regarding MRSA entry swabbing, response to swabs, antiseptic bathing, and decolonization were discussed.

Main Results:

• All hospitals implemented universal MRSA entry swabbing, aligning with national policy.
• Significant variations were observed in the management of both positive and negative MRSA surveillance swabs.
• Most facilities viewed MRSA decolonization primarily as a method for 'bioburden reduction' rather than achieving long-term clearance.

Conclusions:

• Despite uniform entry screening, substantial heterogeneity exists in MRSA management protocols across Singaporean hospitals.
• Further standardization of MRSA decolonization and patient management strategies may be necessary to optimize infection control.