Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a micro-organism that has developed a resistance to antibiotics. MRSA is currently the most clinically significant antibiotic-resistant organism (ARO) in Canada.
MRSA is hardy. The bacteria can live up to six weeks on environmental surfaces and is easily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact and touching shared items. Through the implementation of evidence-based strategies, healthcare providers can reduce MRSA transmission and infections.
About 220,000 Canadians develop hospital-acquired infections each year and about 8,000 die from them annually. It costs more to treat MRSA infections than to prevent them. Estimated costs for treating and isolating patients with MRSA infections was $82 million in 2004 and that could reach $129 million by 2010. Total cost per infected MRSA patient averages $12,216, for prolonged hospitalization, special control measures, expensive treatments and extensive surveillance.
The five key components of evidence-based infection control practices that form the basis of successfully reducing MRSA transmission include an aggressive hand hygiene program; systematic cleaning and decontamination of the environment and equipment; precautions for contact with any patient that is infected with MRSA; selected MRSA screening surveillance cultures on admission and at other times during hospitalization if indicated; and regularly reporting of MRSA infection rates to frontline workers and hospital leadership. Participation in this intervention can help your organization meet the MRSA reporting requirements of the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation.
MRSA is hardy. The bacteria can live up to six weeks on environmental surfaces and is easily transmitted by skin-to-skin contact and touching shared items. Through the implementation of evidence-based strategies, healthcare providers can reduce MRSA transmission and infections.
About 220,000 Canadians develop hospital-acquired infections each year and about 8,000 die from them annually. It costs more to treat MRSA infections than to prevent them. Estimated costs for treating and isolating patients with MRSA infections was $82 million in 2004 and that could reach $129 million by 2010. Total cost per infected MRSA patient averages $12,216, for prolonged hospitalization, special control measures, expensive treatments and extensive surveillance.
The five key components of evidence-based infection control practices that form the basis of successfully reducing MRSA transmission include an aggressive hand hygiene program; systematic cleaning and decontamination of the environment and equipment; precautions for contact with any patient that is infected with MRSA; selected MRSA screening surveillance cultures on admission and at other times during hospitalization if indicated; and regularly reporting of MRSA infection rates to frontline workers and hospital leadership. Participation in this intervention can help your organization meet the MRSA reporting requirements of the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation.
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