TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Active Surveillance and Contact Isolation on Transmission of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Intensive Care Units in an Area With High Prevalence
AU - Wang, Jann Tay
AU - Lauderdale, Tsai Ling
AU - Lee, Wen Sen
AU - Huang, Jeng Hua
AU - Wang, Tsung Hsi
AU - Chang, Shan Chwen
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the Center for Disease Control, Taiwan (CB9411). The authors thank Dr John A. Jernigan and Dr Lawrence Cliff McDonald for their informative recommendations on the study design and execution of this study.
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Background/Purpose: Previous research has suggested that active surveillance and early initiation of contact isolation (ASI) can control the nosocomial spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), especially among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, these interventions have never been implemented in Taiwan. Methods: This study was conducted from September 2005 to October 2006 to evaluate the effect of ASI on the spread of MRSA in two medical centers in Taiwan with a high prevalence of MRSA. One ICU from each hospital was selected as a study site. In phase I (the first 6 months), only active surveillance was introduced. In phase II (the final 6 months), ASI for patients who had positive MRSA cultures was implemented. Results: The incidence of acquiring MRSA during ICU stay did not differ significantly during phases I and II in hospital A (p = 0.940) and hospital B (p = 0.810). The independent risk factors for acquiring MRSA in the ICU were length of stay and presence of respiratory tract diseases. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, given the current resource limitations, ASI alone could not reduce MRSA transmission in two ICUs in Taiwan, where the MRSA prevalence was high.
AB - Background/Purpose: Previous research has suggested that active surveillance and early initiation of contact isolation (ASI) can control the nosocomial spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), especially among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. However, these interventions have never been implemented in Taiwan. Methods: This study was conducted from September 2005 to October 2006 to evaluate the effect of ASI on the spread of MRSA in two medical centers in Taiwan with a high prevalence of MRSA. One ICU from each hospital was selected as a study site. In phase I (the first 6 months), only active surveillance was introduced. In phase II (the final 6 months), ASI for patients who had positive MRSA cultures was implemented. Results: The incidence of acquiring MRSA during ICU stay did not differ significantly during phases I and II in hospital A (p = 0.940) and hospital B (p = 0.810). The independent risk factors for acquiring MRSA in the ICU were length of stay and presence of respiratory tract diseases. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, given the current resource limitations, ASI alone could not reduce MRSA transmission in two ICUs in Taiwan, where the MRSA prevalence was high.
KW - intensive care units
KW - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
KW - patient isolation
KW - surveillance
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U2 - 10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60051-4
DO - 10.1016/S0929-6646(10)60051-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 20434035
AN - SCOPUS:77952315131
SN - 0929-6646
VL - 109
SP - 258
EP - 268
JO - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
JF - Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
IS - 4
ER -