[The improvement on the nursing procedure for pregnant women and newborns and the decrease of Staphylococcus aureus...

Knowing the importance of prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infections, especially that of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (herein after abbreviated as MRSA) in the newborn room, we improved the nursing procedure in the room and examined subsequent changes in the onset condition of the above infection in newborns and infants less than 1-year-old. The infection was detected in 13 cases of stage 1 (stage according to the nursing procedure since the opening of our hospital): 6 cases (all MRSA) had their onset in the room. MRSA was detected in 11 cases, suspecting a hospital cross infection in relation to the period of birth and coagulase type. The infection was detected in 9 cases of stage 2 (stage of prevention of inter-newborn hospital cross infection through environmental purification within the newborn room, through hand and finger disinfection of medical workers, through improved bathing, etc.); 2 cases (1 of MRSA, 1 of Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus [hereinafter abbreviated as MSSA]) had an onset in the room. MRSA was detected in 5 cases, but hospital cross infection was thought difficult to be responsible. The MRSA infection was detected in 4 pregnant cases (0.8%) of stage 3 (stage of effortful prevention of MRSA from carrying into the ward following examination of possible intra-nasal MRSA establishment in pregnant women in addition to similar newborn nursing to stage 2), indicating pregnant women's possible carrying MRSA into the newborn room. S. aureus infection was detected in 9 cases; 2 cases (MSSA) had an onset in the above room.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)