Comparison of strategies to reduce meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates in surgical patients: a controlled multicentre intervention trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare the effect of two strategies (enhanced hand hygiene vs meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening and decolonisation) alone and in combination on MRSA rates in surgical wards.

Design

Prospective, controlled, interventional cohort study, with 6-month baseline, 12-month intervention and 6-month washout phases.

Setting

33 surgical wards of 10 hospitals in nine countries in Europe and Israel.

Participants

All patients admitted to the enrolled wards for more than 24 h.

Interventions

The two strategies compared were (1) enhanced hand hygiene promotion and (2) universal MRSA screening with contact precautions and decolonisation (intranasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine bathing) of MRSA carriers. Four hospitals were assigned t

SUBMITTER: Lee AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3780302 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature