The role of general quality improvement measures in decreasing the burden of endemic MRSA in a medical-surgical intensive care unit

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether any of several quality improvement interventions with none specifically targeting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were associated with a decline in endemic MRSA prevalence in an intensive care unit (ICU) where active screening and contact isolation precautions for known MRSA colonised patients are not practised. SETTING: Medical-surgical ICU with 2,000 admissions/year. DESIGN: 8.5-year retrospective time-series analysis. INTERVENTIONS: ICU re-location, antibiotic stewardship utilising computerised decision-support and infectious-diseases physician rounds, dedicated ICU infection control practitioners, alcohol-based hand rub solution (ABHRS). M..