Reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections
Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2007 Dec
Griffin FA.
5 Million Lives Campaign, Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA fgriffin@ihi.org
BACKGROUND: Hospital-acquired infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) now account for more than 60% of S. aureus infections in intensive care patients reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Media stories have raised the profile of this problem, and several states have moved toward legislative action regarding screening of hospital patients or mandatory reporting of infections. Guidelines from clinical expert organizations, including the CDC, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), recommend the use of basic prevention practices to avoid transmission in the hospital setting, yet concerns persist that compliance with these practices is neither consistent nor reliable.
INTERVENTION: The campaign's MRSA intervention recommends five key components of care. These are not intended to be an all-inclusive list but rather have been recommended by experts as the minimum necessary components:
(1) hand hygiene
(2) decontamination of the environment and equipment
(3) active surveillance
(4) contact precautions for infected and colonized patients, and
(5) device bundles (central line bundle and ventilator bundle).
CONCLUSION: The IHI's 5 Million Lives Campaign considers all hospital-acquired infections as harm to patients, and reduction of MRSA is one of the areas of focus.
PMID: 18200897 [PubMed - in process]
About Me
- Pat O'Connor
- Am old enough to understand the difference between the Bay of Pigs - and roasting a pig at a epicurian feast. Been thru the hippy, yippie and yuppie years - always remaining who I am. Very much believe in "Sing your own song - weave your own tapestry" Am young enough to still know the thrill of new discoveries, the beauty of the evening, to celebrate the joy of another tommorow. Survived these many decades with a severe medical problems. Sorting out the maze of now having two lymphomas and all their nasty little companions, but I continue. Besides, being a simple iconoclastic eclectic, have been called many things. An incurable romanticist - with a strong touch of reality. Thinker, intellectual (God, how I hate that term) - been told I am a lion with the heart of the poet. Know how to wage war and conquer my foes - but would rather be known as one who brings hope and life. To bring hope into anothers life is the ultimate of joys. Life should be about bringing hope, peace, vision... a sense of purpose beyond yourself.
