The Best Hospital Practices for Controlling Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus: On the Cutting Edge

Abstract

These guidelines were distributed to all chief executive officers of Rhode Island hospitals by the Rhode Island Department of Health in December 2001. They were issued separate and apart from any regulations, with the intent that hospitals will adopt them as best hospital practices in an attempt to control MRSA.

Sensitivities of Nasal and Rectal Swabs for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in an Active Surveillance Program

“…Active surveillance for patients colonized with methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recommended to prevent MRSA infections in health care settings (1,8,16,18,25). The sensitivity of patient screening for MRSA colonization is partially dependent on the body sites sampled.…”

Evaluation of a New Chromogenic Medium, MRSA Select , for Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…It is now recognized that screening high-risk hospitalized patients to detect MRSA colonization is an effective infection control measure to reduce the risk of transmission of the organism within health care facilities (1,14,17). Traditional methods for the detection of MRSA from surveillance and screening specimens have included the use of a variety of selective and differential solid media (3,12,18,19,23).…”

The Management of Infection and Colonization due to Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A CIDS/CAMM Position Paper

“…A variety of infection control measures has been recommended for the management of hospitalized patients with MRSA infection or colonization in order to prevent transmission of the organism (111)(112)(113). Recommendations have included screening or surveillance to identify asymptomatic MRSA carriers, meticulous hand hygiene when providing patient care, implementation of isolation or barrier precautions, cohort nursing, decolonization therapy of colonized patients, and screening and decolonization of health care providers.…”

“…Specific infection prevention and control guidelines are not included but interested readers may refer to published guidelines (12,111,112,134).…”