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 methicillinresistant 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..