Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control.  2010 Dec;15(2):112-119.

The Effect of Contact Precautions and Active Surveillance Culture on the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Reduction in an Intensive Care Unit

• Choi SM
• Jeong JS
• Whang DH
• Woo JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
This study investigated the effectiveness of reinforced contact precautions and active surveillance cultures (ASCs) in reducing the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
METHODS
A before- and after-experimental study was performed at the intensive care unit (ICU) in a university-affiliated hospital. Reinforced contact precautions were applied to all patients, and ASCs for MRSA were performed for newly admitted patients at the time of admission and once a week thereafter. The HAIs were investigated in accordance with the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) definitions and compared before and after the interventions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS
The number of HAIs caused by MRSA decreased from 2.2 to 0.5 per 100 patients discharged (P=0.02) and from 3.6 to 1.0 per 1,000 patient-days (P=0.032). The number of overall HAIs decreased from 7.6 to 4.0 per 100 patients discharged (P=0.011) and from 12.7 to 7.3 per 1,000 patient-days (P=0.034). The invasive device-associated infections caused by MRSA and other pathogens decreased, but the decrease was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
Reinforced contact precautions and ASCs were effective in decreasing both MRSA infections and overall HAIs in the ICU. Further, it was assumed that the incidence of device-associated infections would have decreased if the intervention period was extended.

Keyword

MRSA; Healthcare-associated infections; Contact precautions; Active surveillance culture

MeSH Terms

Cross Infection
Humans
Incidence
Critical Care
Intensive Care Units
Methicillin Resistance
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus