This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Nonpathogen-specific intervention strategies decreased MRSA–associated infections
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Compliance with standard infection prevention practices produced significant reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus central line–associated bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia, according to findings presented here.
Researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond conducted active surveillance of a series of nonpathogen-specific initiatives that were implemented at the 820-bed urban teaching hospital in 2004. They included the following:
- An aggressive hand hygiene campaign;
- Central line bundle;
- Ventilator bundle;
- Chlorhexidine bathing of all adult patients in the ICU;
- Recommendation for bare below the elbows;
- Compliance monitoring and feedback via unit-specific posters.
Rates of central line–associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated UTIs and ventilator-associated pneumonia resulting from MRSA were derived from concurrent surveillance by infection control practitioners, according to the researchers. The researchers monitored infection rates using CDC definitions in a 16-bed medical ICU, an 18-bed surgical ICU and a 14-bed neuroscience ICU. Active surveillance cultures, however, were not used.
Results showed a 91% decrease in MRSA central line–associated bloodstream infections; a 62% reduction in MRSA catheter-associated UTIs; and a 92% drop in MRSA ventilator-associated pneumonia. Additional data also indicated that the number of MRSA infections in three ICUs fell from 38 in 2003 to five in 2009.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that the third calendar quarter of 2009 marked the first time that there were no MRSA device-related health care–associated infections in any of the hospital’s eight adult, pediatric and neonatal ICUs.
“Our broad approach allowed us to focus on reducing all pathogens, not just MRSA,” study researcher Michael Edmond, MD, MPH, MPA, chair of the division of infectious diseases at the medical center, said at the meeting. “Using observation and providing feedback to hospital staff through unit-specific posters showing rates of infection, we were successful at reducing infection rates.”
Despite positive results, Edmond said the study’s observational data came from one medical center, and other health care facilities might have different outcomes.
Edmond M. #75. Presented at: Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections; March 18-22, 2010; Atlanta.