Modeling the spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nursing homes for elderly.

ABSTRACT: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic in many hospital settings, including nursing homes. It is an important nosocomial pathogen that causes mortality and an economic burden to patients, hospitals, and the community. The epidemiology of the bacteria in nursing homes is both hospital- and community-like. Transmission occurs via hands of health care workers (HCWs) and direct contacts among residents during social activities. In this work, mathematical modeling in both deterministic and stochastic frameworks is used to study dissemination of MRSA among residents and HCWs, persistence and prevalence of MRSA in a population, and possible means of controlling the spread of this pathogen in nursing homes. The model predicts that: (i) without strict screening and decoloniza

SUBMITTER: Chamchod F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3253090 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature