Impact of Results of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus, aureus Surveillance Culture of Nasal Specimens on Subsequent Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 842-845
Author(s):  
Jörg J. Ruhe ◽  
Barry Kreiswirth ◽  
David C. Perlman ◽  
Donna Mildvan ◽  
Brian Koll

We studied the potential impact of results of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surveillance culture of nasal specimens on physicians' vancomycin-prescribing habits. We compared 116 case patients who had positive results with 116 matched control subjects who had negative results. On multivariate analyses, a positive MRSA carrier status remained strongly predictive of vancomycin use within the subsequent 12 weeks.

2007 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Peter N. Johnson ◽  
Robert P. Rapp ◽  
Christopher T. Nelson ◽  
J.S. Butler ◽  
Sue Overman ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of prior antibiotic therapy on the incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections in children. METHODS This was a concurrent and retrospective review of antibiotic records for children < 18 years of age with documented CA-MRSA infection identified between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2005. Antibiotic records were compared against a control group. The primary outcome was the incidence of CA-MRSA using linear regression as a function of age and prior antibiotic therapy (i.e., 3 months prior to admission). Secondary objectives included a comparison of antibiotic courses and classes and a description of antibiotic susceptibilities in patients with CA-MRSA RESULTS Data from 26 patients were included. Nine out of 51 patients (18%) with CA-MRSA were included. Another 17 children were enrolled in the control group. The median age was approximately 1.75 years (0.08–14 years) in the CA-MRSA group versus 2.75 years (0.005-15 years) in the control group. A statistical difference was noted in the number of patients with prior antibiotic exposure between the CA-MRSA and control group, 8 (88.9%) versus 6 (35.3%), respectively (P = .01). Antibiotic exposure was found to be a significant independent risk factor (P = .005; 95% CI, 0.167–0.846) for the development of CA-MRSA. The interaction between antibiotic exposure and age < 3 was the most significant predictor of CA-MRSA (P = .019; 95% CI, 0.139–1.40). CONCLUSIONS Prior antibiotic therapy in patients < 3 years of age was associated with a significant risk of developing CA-MRSA. A comprehensive assessment of CA-MRSA patients should include objective methods of measuring prior antibiotic exposure such as pharmacy records.


2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1004-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pnina Shitrit ◽  
Bat-Sheva Gottesman ◽  
Michal Katzir ◽  
Avi Kilman ◽  
Yona Ben-Nissan ◽  
...  

Objectives.To evaluate the influence of performance of active surveillance cultures for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on the incidence of nosocomial MRSA bacteremia in an endemic hospital.Design.Before-after trial.Setting.A 700-bed hospital.Patients.All patients admitted to the hospital who were at high risk for MRSA bacteremia.Intervention.Performance of surveillance cultures for detection of MRSA were recommended for all patients at high risk, and contact isolation was implemented for patients with positive results of culture. Each MRSA-positive patient received one course of eradication treatment. We compared the total number of surveillance cultures, the percentage of surveillance cultures with positive results, and the number of MRSA bacteremia cases before the intervention (from January 2002 through February 2003) after the start of the intervention (from July 2003 through October 2004).Results.The number of surveillance cultures performed increased from a mean of 272.57 cultures/month before the intervention to 865.83 cultures/month after the intervention. The percentage of surveillance cultures with positive results increased from 3.13% before to 5.22% after the intervention (P<.001). The mean number of MRSA bacteremia cases per month decreased from 3.6 cases before the intervention to 1.8 cases after the intervention (P< 0.001).Conclusions.Active surveillance culture is important for identifying hidden reservoirs of MRSA. Contact isolation can prevent new colonization and infection and lead to a significant reduction of morbidity and healthcare costs.


Author(s):  
Shani Van Lochem ◽  
Peter N. Thompson ◽  
Cornelius H. Annandale

The prevalence of nasal carrier status of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pigs has been described elsewhere, but is unknown in South Africa. To address concerns that exist regarding the zoonotic risk that carriers pose to workers, the herd-level prevalence of MRSA was determined among 25 large (> 500 sows) commercial pig herds in South Africa, representing 45% of the large commercial herds in the country. From each herd, the nasal contents of 18 finisher pigs were sampled at the abattoir, pooled into three and selectively cultured to determine the presence of MRSA. A herd was classified as MRSA-positive if one or more of the three pooled samples cultured positive. Three of the 25 herds tested positive for MRSA, equating to a 12% herd prevalence (95% CI: 7% – 23%) among South African commercial piggeries. The prevalence of nasal MRSA carriers among large commercial pig herds in South Africa was low compared to what has been reported elsewhere and suggests a relatively low zoonotic MRSA risk to workers in South African commercial piggeries and abattoirs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Drehmer de Almeida Cruz ◽  
Fabiana Cristina Pimenta ◽  
Miyeko Hayashida ◽  
Marina Eidt ◽  
Elucir Gir

This study assessed the prevalence of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in hospital housekeepers, and their knowledge and beliefs regarding this problem. Three saliva samples were collected and a questionnaire regarding knowledge and beliefs was applied. Of the 92 workers, 63 (68.5%) participated in the study; 20 were not and 43 were colonized; 13 by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 30 by methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Persistent carrier status of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 15.4% of cases. Low knowledge and perception of occupational risk were observed. The mouth was identified as an important reservoir of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Analyzing knowledge and beliefs, as well as the state of carrier, is an important strategy to be added to educational actions for the prevention of workers' colonization.


Author(s):  
Latha T ◽  
Anil K Bhat ◽  
Manjunatha Hande H ◽  
Chiranjay Mukhopadyay ◽  
Elsa Sanatombi Devi ◽  
...  

 Objective: The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrier status in anterior nares and hands of health-care professionals working in orthopedic wards of a tertiary care hospital and to decolonize them to reduce spread of MRSA to their patients.Methods: The study was conducted in a super specialty, tertiary care teaching hospital. The samples were collected from anterior nares, palm, web spaces, and fingertips of 140 health-care professionals (48 doctors, 74 nurses, and 18 technicians) working in orthopedic wards using sterile pre-moistened swabs. MRSA carrier status was identified by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Result: Most (76.4%) of the health-care professionals were <30 years of age and 51% were male. MRSA in anterior nares of doctors was 4.3%, nurses 1.4%, and technicians 0.7% and none had MRSA in their hands. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) growth was more among nurses (nurses - 5.7%, doctors - 2.1%, and technicians - 1.4%) in anterior nares. In addition, 1.4% nurses’ hands were colonized with MSSA. Both MRSA and MSSA carriers were decolonized effectively and repeat sampling showed no growth.Conclusion: Health-care professionals have a greater chance of transmitting MRSA to patients and orthopedic patients are more susceptible for infection. Although MRSA carrier status was not very high among orthopedic health-care professionals compared to previous studies, it cannot be ignored. Nasal mupirocin and bath with chlorhexidine soap were effective in decolonization. Periodic screening and treatment of colonizers would help in elimination of MRSA carriage.


2008 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 4510-4513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaudia Kosowska-Shick ◽  
Lois M. Ednie ◽  
Pamela McGhee ◽  
Kathy Smith ◽  
Cynthia D. Todd ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT All 982 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains collected from August 2006 to December 2007 were tested for vancomycin susceptibility by using 3-μg/ml vancomycin brain heart infusion screening plates, a vancomycin Etest, and a vancomycin/teicoplanin macro Etest. Three vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) (0.3%) and two heterogeneous VISA (0.2%) isolates were identified. The screening method yielded 895 cases of ≤1 colony and 87 positive results (with growth of >1 colony after 48 h); further Etests showed 82/87 isolates with growth on screening plates to be false positive. Repeat testing showed a false-positivity rate of only 15 of the original 87 isolates by plate screening.


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