MRSA infections in smaller hospitals, Victoria, Australia
Background
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cause significant morbidity, mortality, and associated costs.
Methods
Trained infection control (IC) nurses in 84 smaller (<100 acute beds) hospitals during a 20-month period collected data on MRSA infections.
Results
The aggregate rate for all MRSA infections confirmed by the Victorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System Coordinating Centre IC nurse was 1.5 per 10,000 acute care occupied bed days (OBDs) (95% CI: 1.2-1.8). MRSA infections of 0.5 per 10,000 OBDs were detected >48 hours after admission (95% CI: 0.3-0.7). The aggregate rate for MRSA infections in sterile sites was 0.2 per 10,000 OBDs (95% CI: 0.0-0.4) and in nonsterile sites was 1.3 per 10,000 OBDs (95% CI: 1.0-1.6).
Conclusion
The results suggested that serious MRSA infections in Victoria's smaller hospitals are an infrequent event. Most are “inherited” either from the community or other health care facilities.
aVictorian Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance System (VICNISS) Coordinating Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
bSchool of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
cMicrobiology and Infectious Diseases Unit, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Address correspondence to Noleen Bennett, RN, MPH, Senior Infection Control consultant, VICNISS Coordinating Centre, 10 Wreckyn St., North Melbourne 3061, VIC, Australia.
The VICNISS CC is fully funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services.
ABSTRACT