Non-pharmacological interventions designed to support carriers of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs): a...

Carriers of multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs) often experience stigma, anxiety and uncertainty. Many feel inadequately informed, leading to distress and dissatisfaction.

To evaluate research on non-pharmacological interventions to support carriers of MDROs with their informational and psychological needs.

This systematic literature review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched between January 2000 and October 2024. Moreover, a comprehensive citation search was conducted to identify interventions. Findings on study characteristics, intervention types, and outcomes were synthesized narratively with a thematic analysis of reported implementation challenges and considerations.

Only four studies were identified, comprising a total of 238 participants. All interventions included educational components, and one also incorporated an emotional support element. The interventions aimed to improve knowledge, well-being and behavioural outcomes among MDRO carriers. Education was associated with improvements in knowledge, perceived informedness, and satisfaction, although findings on behavioural outcomes and well-being were mixed. Implementation challenges included resource constraints, integration into clinical workflows, sustainability, and variability in healthcare settings.

The main outcome of this review is the striking lack of research on how to address the non-medical needs of MDRO carriers. Although the limited available evidence suggests that education and emotional support interventions may be beneficial, methodological shortcomings limit the generalizability of these findings. This review highlights the urgent need for robust, scalable, patient-centred interventions to improve the experiences of MDRO carriers.