MRSA in NUH
Healthcare-associated
infections are infections that patients acquire while receiving
treatment in the healthcare setting. There are a number of factors that
can increase the risk of acquiring infection, but good infection
control practices and standards can minimise the risk.
What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
Staphylococcus aureus
(staph) bacteria are commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of
healthy people without causing any symptoms of illness. Some staph
bacteria are resistant to antibiotics.
MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These
antibiotics include cloxacillin which is traditionally the most useful
and our first choice. Staph is transmitted primarily through direct
person-to-person contact, especially via contaminated hands. While MRSA
and all staph can cause illness in patients in healthcare facilities,
such infections also occur outside of hospitals because of widespread
antibiotic use.
NUH is committed to helping all patients receive the best and safest
care during their stay. This includes a specific focus on preventing
MRSA infection. This starts with preventing spread from patient to
patient via the hands of staff.
What is NUH doing about MRSA?
NUH conducts MRSA surveillance to monitor healthcare-associated MRSA
transmission, which in its early stages is asymptomatic. We report,
manage and monitor MRSA incidence in our commitment to provide the best
and safest care to our patients.
Our hospital develops and promotes evidence-based infection control
strategies to reduce transmission of healthcare-associated MRSA through
prevention projects. These projects target various patient populations,
which include patients from the orthopaedic and surgical disciplines,
as well as the intensive care units (ICUs). We aim to roll out these
successful initiatives throughout the hospital.
Chart 1 : MRSA Transmission Rate In Ortho Wards
Acquisition
Rate refers to the % of patients in the month admitted to this ward
without MRSA yet became colonised or infected as inpatients.
Chart 2: MRSA Transmission Rate In ICUs
Acquisition
Rate refers to the % of patients in the month admitted to this ward
without MRSA yet became colonised or infected as inpatients. For Ward
24(NNU), Acquisition Rate is obtained by weekly surveillance of MRSA
negative neonates. It is assumed that all are negative on admission.
The project has shown a reduction of healthcare-associated MRSA
infections in orthopaedic patients in Ward 51 and progress towards an
overall reduction of healthcare-associated MRSA transmission in ICUs.
In January 2008, we rolled out the project, including active screening
of patients to five more wards.
Chart 3: MRSA Transmission Rate In Surgical/Ortho Wards
Acquisition
Rate refers to the % of patients in the month admitted to this ward
without MRSA yet became colonised or infected as inpatients.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). MRSA in Healthcare Settings.http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_MRSA_spotlight_2006.html Retrieved Jan, 2008, from
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2007). Healthcare-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA). Retrieved Jan, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.dbo.dbo.html
- Committee on Infectious Diseases 2004-2006. (2006). Red Book, 2nd. edn, American Academy of Pediatrics, United States of America.
- Health Protection Agency (2008). Healthcare Associated Infections. Retrieved Jan, 2008, from http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/default.dbo.dbo.htm
