Strategies to Prevent Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Acute-Care Hospitals
Key Points
Key Points
- Antimicrobial stewardship is an essential practice for the prevention of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in acute-care hospitals.
- Although the use of contact precautions remains an essential practice, hospitals that have strong horizontal prevention measures and neither ongoing MRSA outbreaks nor high or increasing rates of MRSA infection or hospital-onset MRSA-positive cultures may consider modifying the use of contact precautions for some or all MRSA-colonized or MRSA-infected patients.
- Active surveillance testing (AST) for specific patient populations is an additional approach that may be implemented part of a multifaceted strategy to prevent and control MRSA.
- Universal or targeted decolonization in several specific patient populations should be considered when MRSA transmission is not controlled by essential practices.
- This pocket guide highlights practical recommendations to assist acute care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing MRSA prevention efforts.
- It is based on a synthesis of evidence, theoretical rationale, current practices, practical considerations, author consensus, and consideration of potential harm, where applicable.
- No guideline or expert guidance document can anticipate all clinical situations. This pocket guide is not meant to be a substitute for individual clinical judgment by qualified professionals.
Recommendations
Recommendation...
...mendations to Prevent MRSA (Ta...
...Practices: should be adopted by all...
...lement a MRSA monitoring program. (L)...
...RSA risk assessment. (L)3305355
...ompliance with the Centers for Disease Contro...
...ct precautions for MRSA-colonized and MRSA...
.... Ensure cleaning and disinfection of...
...Implement a laboratory-based alert system th...
...mplement an alert system that identifies read...
...data and outcome measures to key stakeholders, in...
...e healthcare personnel about MRSA. (L)3305355...
...0. Educate patients and families about MRSA. (L)3...
...plement an antimicrobial stewardship...
...al Approaches: can be considered for use in loc...
...Surveillance Testing (AST)...
...ment a MRSA AST program for select patient popula...
...Active surveillance for MRSA in conjunction...
...ve surveillance with contact precaut...
...l-wide active surveillance for MRSA can be...
...surveillance can be performed in the...
Screen HCP for MRSA infection or coloniz...
...for MRSA infection or colonization if they...
...colonization therap...
...sal decolonization (daily chlorhexidine...
...rform preoperative nares screening w...
...for MRSA and provide targeted decolonization wit...
.... Provide CHG bathing plus nasal decoloniza...
...nsider postdischarge decolonization...
...l ICUs should consider targeted or universal dec...
...units should consider targeted or universa...
.... Consider targeted or universal d...
9. Strongly consider decolonization as part...
...l use of gowns and gloves
...and gloves when providing care to or e...
...resolved Issues
Universal MRSA decolonization Mupirocin and c...