Screening of Likely MRSA Carriers Could Prevent Hospital Infections: Study
A new study has found that certain types of hospital patients are far more likely to carry colonies of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in their noses than others, placing them at higher risk of contracting virulent hospital infections or passing it on to other patients.
The study, published online in the medical journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, was led by researchers from Rhode Island Hospital along with researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and other medical centers and universities.
The study found that, overall, one in three individuals had colonies of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their nose, but certain groups, such as elderly nursing home residents, HIV patients and those undergoing kidney dialysis, were far more likely to carry the potentially deadly bacteria. Rhode Island Hospital announced the results of the study in a press release earlier this month.
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Learn MoreMRSA infections, also known as “superbug” infections, have been steadily growing in the U.S. over the last decade. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 2 million hospital infections acquired each year, resulting in about 90,000 deaths annually. Another 1.5 million long term care and nursing home infections occur every year. MRSA, which resists treatment by many antibiotics, has accounted for more than 60 percent of hospital staph infections in recent years.
In the most recent study, researchers took nose cultures from 2,055 patients at 13 different enrollment centers. About 444 of those cultures resulted in the growth of MRSA. Researchers found that 20% of long-term elder care patients carried MRSA colonies, as well as 16% of patients infected with HIV, and 14% and 15% of inpatient and outpatient hemodialysis patients, respectively.
“Hospitals performing active surveillance for MRSA should consider such patient populations for screening cultures,” said Dr. Leonard Mermel, of Rhode Island Hospital. Mermel was the study’s lead author.
Researchers also discovered that a variety of MRSA strains were found across different patient populations, including some strains which had not previously been detected in the United States.
The findings of this latest study follow the release of the results earlier this month of another study conducted by Johns Hopkins that found that 6% of children admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICU) carry MRSA as well.
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2 Comments
MicheleApril 28, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I couldn't have said it better myself ! Hurray ! The hospitals should be morally and financially responsible for this. There doctors and nurses are the ones passing it on. I know this for a fact. I myself had an operation almost a year ago and came home with MRSA in my wound. As I was re-admitted and tubes placed everywhere to try and top the MRSA my doctor leaned over my bed and tried to consol[Show More]I couldn't have said it better myself ! Hurray ! The hospitals should be morally and financially responsible for this. There doctors and nurses are the ones passing it on. I know this for a fact. I myself had an operation almost a year ago and came home with MRSA in my wound. As I was re-admitted and tubes placed everywhere to try and top the MRSA my doctor leaned over my bed and tried to console me with these words " It's going to be ok Michele, I myself and my wife have had MRSA, it'll get better " What I went thru after this I guess is irrevelant. I have brought this up a few times here and there with members of the medical profession and I've actually gotten shrugged shoulders and comments like it's not really a big deal. Guess what... it is a big deal. When someone close to you dies from this then maybe, just maybe you will re-think your loyalties and where they belong.
RNApril 28, 2010 at 11:10 am
This is very interesting however what was missed was how many of the caregivers of the nursing homes and hospitals were also checked? They are the individuals crossing from patient to patient some work in more than one area like housekeeping. Why are these ommitted? I think the results of an examination of all staff and treatment of these carriers would reduce the spread of these infections from t[Show More]This is very interesting however what was missed was how many of the caregivers of the nursing homes and hospitals were also checked? They are the individuals crossing from patient to patient some work in more than one area like housekeeping. Why are these ommitted? I think the results of an examination of all staff and treatment of these carriers would reduce the spread of these infections from the "unknowen source". I have asked this question before at different hospitals where I have worked and have been told that the cost would be excessive to test and then treat carrier staff. So we continue to blame the enviornment instead of starting at the root. Has anyone done this during large outbreaks? It make sense to me anyone else?