scholarly journals Daily Bathing with Chlorhexidine-Based Soap and the Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus Transmission and Infection

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa A. Viray ◽  
James C. Morley ◽  
Craig M. Coopersmith ◽  
Marin H. Kollef ◽  
Victoria J. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Chlorhexidine Bathing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Surgical Icu ◽  
Time Series Methodology

Objective.Determine whether daily bathing with chlorhexidine-based soap decreased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission and intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired S. aureus infection among ICU patients.Design.Prospective pre-post-intervention study with control unit.Setting.A 1,250-bed tertiary care teaching hospital.Patients.Medical and surgical ICU patients.Methods.Active surveillance for MRSA colonization was performed in both ICUs. In June 2005, a chlorhexidine bathing protocol was implemented in the surgical ICU. Changes in S. aureus transmission and infection rate before and after implementation were analyzed using time-series methodology.Results.The intervention unit had a 20.68% decrease in MRSA acquisition after institution of the bathing protocol (12.64 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention vs 10.03 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention; β, −2.62 [95% confidence interval (CI), −5.19 to −0.04]; P = .046). There was no significant change in MRSA acquisition in the control ICU during the study period (10.97 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before June 2005 vs 11.33 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after June 2005; β, −11.10 [95% CI, −37.40 to 15.19]; P = .40). There was a 20.77% decrease in all S. aureus (including MRSA) acquisition in the intervention ICU from 2002 through 2007 (19.73 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention to 15.63 cases per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention [95% CI, −7.25 to −0.95]; P = .012)]. The incidence of ICU-acquired MRSA infections decreased by 41.37% in the intervention ICU (1.96 infections per 1,000 patient-days at risk before the intervention vs 1.15 infections per 1,000 patient-days at risk after the intervention; P = .001).Conclusions.Institution of daily chlorhexidine bathing in an ICU resulted in a decrease in the transmission of S. aureus, including MRSA. These data support the use of routine daily chlorhexidine baths to decrease rates of S. aureus transmission and infection.

scholarly journals 600. Decreased Hospital Readmission After Programmatic Strengthening of an Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S362-S363
Author(s):  
Gaurav Agnihotri ◽  
Alan E Gross ◽  
Minji Seok ◽  
Cheng Yu Yen ◽  
Farah Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hospital Readmission ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Although it is recommended that an OPAT program should be managed by a formal OPAT team that supports the treating physician, many OPAT programs face challenges in obtaining necessary program staff (i.e nurses or pharmacists) due to limited data examining the impact of a dedicated OPAT team on patient outcomes. Our objective was to compare OPAT-related readmission rates among patients receiving OPAT before and after the implementation of a strengthened OPAT program. Methods This retrospective quasi-experiment compared adult patients discharged on intravenous (IV) antibiotics from the University of Illinois Hospital before and after implementation of programmatic changes to strengthen the OPAT program. Data from our previous study were used as the pre-intervention group (1/1/2012 to 8/1/2013), where only individual infectious disease (ID) physicians coordinated OPAT. Post-intervention (10/1/2017 to 1/1/2019), a dedicated OPAT nurse provided full time support to the treating ID physicians through care coordination, utilization of protocols for lab monitoring and management, and enhanced documentation. Factors associated with readmission for OPAT-related problems at a significance level of p< 0.1 in univariate analysis were eligible for testing in a forward stepwise multinomial logistic regression to identify independent predictors of readmission. Results Demographics, antimicrobial indications, and OPAT administration location of the 428 patients pre- and post-intervention are listed in Table 1. After implementation of the strengthened OPAT program, the readmission rate due to OPAT-related complications decreased from 17.8% (13/73) to 6.5% (23/355) (p=0.001). OPAT-related readmission reasons included: infection recurrence/progression (56%), adverse drug reaction (28%), or line-associated issues (17%). Independent predictors of hospital readmission due to OPAT-related problems are listed in Table 2. Table 1. OPAT Patient Demographics and Factors Pre- and Post-intervention Table 2. Factors independently associated with hospital readmission in OPAT patients Conclusion An OPAT program with dedicated staff at a large academic tertiary care hospital was independently associated with decreased risk for readmission, which provides critical evidence to substantiate additional resources being dedicated to OPAT by health systems in the future. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Description of a pharmacist-driven safety algorithm in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: Compliance, interventions, and good saves

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 921-925
Author(s):  
Tara H. Lines ◽  
Whitney J. Nesbitt ◽  
Matthew H. Greene ◽  
George E. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Definitive Therapy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Bundle Compliance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Major Adverse Events

AbstractObjective:To evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-driven Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) safety bundle supported by leadership and to compare compliance before and after implementation.Design:Retrospective cohort study with descriptive and before-and-after analyses.Setting:Tertiary-care academic medical center.Patients:All patients with documented SAB, regardless of the source of infection, were included. Patients transitioned to palliative care were excluded from before-and-after analysis.Methods:A pharmacist-driven safety bundle including documented clearance of bacteremia, echocardiography, removal of central venous catheters, and targeted intravenous therapy of at least 2 weeks duration was implemented in November 2015 and was supported by leadership with stepwise escalation for nonresponse. A descriptive analysis of all patients with SAB during the study period included pharmacy interventions, acceptance rates, and escalation rates. A pre–post implementation analysis of 100 sequential patients compared bundle compliance and descriptive parameters.Results:Overall, 391 interventions were made in the 20-month period following implementation, including 20 “good saves” avoiding potentially major adverse events. No statistically significant differences in complete bundle compliance were detected between the periods (74% vs 84%; P = .08). However, we detected a significant increase in echocardiography after the bundle was implemented (83% vs 94%; P = .02) and fewer patients received suboptimal definitive therapy after the bundle was implemented (10% vs 3%; P = .045).Conclusions:This pharmacist-driven SAB safety bundle with leadership support showed improvement in process measures, which may have prevented major adverse events, even with available infectious diseases (ID) consultation. It provides a critical safety net for institutions without mandatory ID consultation or with limited antimicrobial stewardship resources.

Colonization With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in ICU Patients Morbidity, Mortality, and Glycopeptide Use

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 687-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maité Garrouste-Orgeas ◽  
Jean-Francois Timsit ◽  
Hatem Kallel ◽  
Adel Ben Ali ◽  
Marie Francoise Dumay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Icu Mortality ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Saps Ii ◽  
Icu Stay ◽  
Mrsa Infection ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mrsa Colonization

Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of methicillin-resis-tant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on the occurrence of S aureus infections (methicillin-resistant and methicillin-suscep-tible), the use of glycopeptides, and outcome among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Design: Prospective observational cohort survey. Setting: A medical-surgical ICU with 10 single-bed rooms in a 460-bed, tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital. Patients: A total of 1,044 ICU patients were followed for the detection of MRSA colonization from July 1, 1995, to July, 1 1998. Methods: MRSA colonization was detected using nasal samples in all patients plus wound samples in surgical patients within 48 hours of admission or within the first 48 hours of ICU stay and weekly thereafter. MRSA infections were defined using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standard definitions, except for ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related infections, which were defined by quantitative distal culture samples. Results: One thousand forty-four patients (70% medical patients) were included in the analysis. Mean age was 61±18 years; mean Simplified Acute Physiologic Score (SAPS) II was 36.4±20; and median ICU stay was 4 (range, 1-193) days. Two hundred thirty-one patients (22%) died in the ICU. Fifty-four patients (5.1%) were colonized with MRSA on admission, and 52 (4.9%) of 1,044 acquired MRSA colonization in the ICU. Thirty-five patients developed a total of 42 S aureus infections (32 MRSA, 10 methi-cillin-susceptible). After factors associated with the development of an S aureus infection were adjusted for in a multivariate Cox model (SAPS II >36: hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; P=.09; male gender: HR, 2.2; P=.05), MRSA colonization increased the risk of S aureus infection (HR, 3.84; P=.0003). MRSA colonization did not influence ICU mortality (HR, 1.01; P=.94). Glycopeptides were used in 11.4% of the patients (119/1,044) for a median duration of 5 days. For patients with no colonization, MRSA colonization on admission, and ICU-acquired MRSA colonization, respectively, glycopeptide use per 1,000 hospital days was 37.7, 235.2, and 118.3 days. MRSA colonization per se increased by 3.3-fold the use of glycopeptides in MRSA-colonized patients, even when an MRSA infection was not demonstrated, compared to non-colonized patients. Conclusions: In our unit, MRSA colonization greatly increased the risk of S aureus infection and of glycopeptide use in colonized and non-colonized patients, without influencing ICU mortality. MRSA colonization influenced glycopeptide use even if an MRSA infection was not demonstrated; thus, an MRSA control program is warranted to decrease vancomycin use and to limit glycopeptide resistance in gram-positive cocci.

scholarly journals Impact of Hospital Acquired Infection and Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Campaign on Knowledge Attitude and Practices of Medical Undergraduates in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital, India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ekadashi Rajni ◽  
Priyanka Rathi ◽  
Manisha Malik ◽  
Sonali Mittal ◽  
Ved Prakash Mamoria
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Poor Grade ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Grass Root Level ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Hospital Acquired

Introduction: Healthcare professionals have an important role in tackling the growing menace of Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI) and Antibiotic Resistance (ABR). Regular trainings imparted early in career can result in better understanding of these crucial issues. Aim: To identify the baseline Knowledge Attitude and Practices (KAP) of 5th semester MBBS undergraduate students of a University Medical College in Rajasthan, India, and to determine the changes in these parameters after the implementation of a vigorous “HAI and ABR Awareness campaign”. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study involved 86, 5th semester MBBS undergraduate students. The study instrument was a preformed pretested 30 item self-administered questionnaire. The study intervention included a series of lectures, role plays, poster competition; and an audio-visual quiz. The performance of individual participants before and after the intervention was then statistically analysed with Microsoft Excel and software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: The pre-intervention overall KAP score of each student was found to be poor in 17.4%, average in 61.6%, and excellent in 20.9% in study participants. Post-intervention grades were found to be poor, average, and excellent in 1.1%, 8.14%, and 90.7% study participants, respectively. A statistically significant decrease in the percentage of students with poor grade and a significant increase in those with excellent grade were observed. Conclusion: There is a need for suitable amendments in current MBBS curriculum to include modules which comprehensively address the core issues of ABR, HAIs and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). This would help to bring out attitude and behavioural changes in students at the very grass-root level.

scholarly journals 2084. Implementation of a Diagnostic Stewardship Algorithm by Bedside Nurses to Reduce Unnecessary Urinary Cultures in Hospitalized Adult Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S703-S704
Author(s):  
Valeria Fabre ◽  
Ashley Pleiss ◽  
Zoe Demko ◽  
Anna Sick-Samuels ◽  
Lauri Hicks ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Johns Hopkins Hospital ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Statistical Process ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Algorithm Implementation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Intervention Unit

Abstract Background Urine cultures (UCx) are often ordered in patients without symptoms of urinary tract infection. A pilot study was conducted to assess the impact of a nurse-driven UCx diagnostic stewardship intervention for adult inpatients. Methods We interviewed eight nurses to determine the feasibility of a nurse-driven UCx stewardship intervention. Based on their feedback, an algorithm with appropriate indications for UCx was developed (Figure 1) and approved by physicians and nurses for piloting on a 24-bed medicine unit at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. UCx orders/100 patient-days (PD) were trended with statistical process charts in the intervention and a control unit. Nurses used the algorithm to guide discussions with ordering providers and to suggest instances where UCx may be unnecessary (“intervention”). Nurses were educated on an antibiotic (abx) use safety and appropriate testing during live sessions prior to algorithm implementation. Two study team members reviewed all UCx ordered in the intervention unit 12 months before and 6 months after the intervention for appropriateness based on algorithm criteria. Feedback on UCx order appropriateness and case-based discussion were provided to nurses via in-person meetings post intervention. Data were compared using the χ 2 or the Mann–Whitney test as appropriate. The rate of UCx orders before and after the intervention were compared using a standard incident ratio (IRR). Results With algorithm implementation, the mean rate of UCx orders/100 PD decreased from 2.7 to 1.8 (39% decrease) in the intervention unit (IRR 0.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.45–0.82, P = .16). Mean UCx order rates in the control unit were 2.49 and 2.99, respectively (Figure 2). Characteristics of patients reviewed for appropriateness were similar between the two study periods: median age 63 (IQR 39, 74) vs. 56 (IQR 45, 76), female sex 65% vs. 61%, on hemodialysis 7% vs. 11%, urinary catheter present 20% vs. 29%. The proportion of inappropriate UCx decreased from 59% (98/165) to 50% (32/64) (P = 0.16). There were 8 and 1 cases of asymptomatic bacteriuria inappropriately treated in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively (42 and 7 abx days). Conclusion With the appropriate training and tools, nurses can steward UCx and reduce unnecessary testing and abx use Disclosures Sara E. Cosgrove, MD, MS, Basilea: Consultant; Theravance: Consultant.

scholarly journals Prevalence of qacA/B Genes and Mupirocin Resistance Among Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolates in the Setting of Chlorhexidine Bathing Without Mupirocin

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 590-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
David K. Warren ◽  
Martin Prager ◽  
Satish Munigala ◽  
Meghan A. Wallace ◽  
Colleen R. Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Chlorhexidine Bathing ◽  
Large Tertiary Care ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Mupirocin Resistance ◽  
High Level

OBJECTIVEWe aimed to determine the frequency of qacA/B chlorhexidine tolerance genes and high-level mupirocin resistance among MRSA isolates before and after the introduction of a chlorhexidine (CHG) daily bathing intervention in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU).DESIGNRetrospective cohort study (2005–2012)SETTINGA large tertiary-care centerPATIENTSPatients admitted to SICU who had MRSA surveillance cultures of the anterior naresMETHODSA random sample of banked MRSA anterior nares isolates recovered during (2005) and after (2006–2012) implementation of a daily CHG bathing protocol was examined for qacA/B genes and high-level mupirocin resistance. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing was also performed.RESULTSOf the 504 randomly selected isolates (63 per year), 36 (7.1%) were qacA/B positive (+) and 35 (6.9%) were mupirocin resistant. Of these, 184 (36.5%) isolates were SCCmec type IV. There was a significant trend for increasing qacA/B (P=.02; highest prevalence, 16.9% in 2009 and 2010) and SCCmec type IV (P<.001; highest prevalence, 52.4% in 2012) during the study period. qacA/B(+) MRSA isolates were more likely to be mupirocin resistant (9 of 36 [25%] qacA/B(+) vs 26 of 468 [5.6%] qacA/B(−); P=.003).CONCLUSIONSA long-term, daily CHG bathing protocol was associated with a change in the frequency of qacA/B genes in MRSA isolates recovered from the anterior nares over an 8-year period. This change in the frequency of qacA/B genes is most likely due to patients in those years being exposed in prior admissions. Future studies need to further evaluate the implications of universal CHG daily bathing on MRSA qacA/B genes among hospitalized patients.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:590–597

The Effect of Rapid Screening for Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) on the Identification and Earlier Isolation of MRSA-Positive Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 374-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eilish Creamer ◽  
Anthony Dolan ◽  
Orla Sherlock ◽  
Toney Thomas ◽  
John Walsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Rapid Screening ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
Risk Patients

Objectives.(1) To determine whether rapid screening with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays leads to the earlier isolation of patients at risk for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) colonization, (2) to assess compliance with routine MRSA screening protocols, (3) to confirm the diagnostic accuracy of the Xpert MRSA real-time PCR assay (Cepheid) by comparison with culture, and (4) to compare turnaround times for PCR assay results with those for culture results.Design.Before-and-after study conducted in a 700-bed acute tertiary care referral hospital. Study periods were (1) a 5-week period before PCR testing began, (2) a 10-week period when the PCR assay was used, and (3) a 5-week period after PCR testing was discontinued.Results.Among 489 at-risk patients, MRSA was isolated from 20 (33%) of 60 patients during period 1, 77 (22%) of 349 patients during period 2, and 18 (23%) of 80 patients during period 3. Twenty-two (27%) of 82 at-risk patients were not screened during period 1, compared with 40 (10%) of 389 at-risk patients not screened during period 2 (P< .001). More MRSA-positive patients were preemptively isolated during periods 1 and 3 compared with period 2 (34 [24%] of 140 vs 28 [8%] of 389;P< .001); however, more MRSA-positive patients were isolated after notification of MRSA-positive results during period 2 (47 [13%] of 349) compared with periods 1 and 3 (2 [1%] of 140;P< .001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the PCR assay were 95%, 97%, 82%, and 99%, respectively. The mean turnaround time from receipt of specimens in the laboratory to PCR assay result was 2.6 hours.Conclusions.Rapid screening with the Xpert MRSA PCR assay facilitated compliance with screening policies and the earlier isolation of MRSA-positive Patients. Discrepant results confirm that PCR testing should be used as a screening tool rather than as a diagnostic tool.

Colonization With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in ICU Patients Morbidity, Mortality, and Glycopeptide Use

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 687-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maité Garrouste-Orgeas ◽  
Jean-Francois Timsit ◽  
Hatem Kallel ◽  
Adel Ben Ali ◽  
Marie Francoise Dumay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Icu Mortality ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Saps Ii ◽  
Icu Stay ◽  
Mrsa Infection ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mrsa Colonization

AbstractObjective:To determine the impact of methicillin-resis-tant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on the occurrence of S aureus infections (methicillin-resistant and methicillin-suscep-tible), the use of glycopeptides, and outcome among intensive care unit (ICU) patients.Design:Prospective observational cohort survey.Setting:A medical-surgical ICU with 10 single-bed rooms in a 460-bed, tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital.Patients:A total of 1,044 ICU patients were followed for the detection of MRSA colonization from July 1, 1995, to July, 1 1998.Methods:MRSA colonization was detected using nasal samples in all patients plus wound samples in surgical patients within 48 hours of admission or within the first 48 hours of ICU stay and weekly thereafter. MRSA infections were defined using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standard definitions, except for ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-related infections, which were defined by quantitative distal culture samples.Results:One thousand forty-four patients (70% medical patients) were included in the analysis. Mean age was 61±18 years; mean Simplified Acute Physiologic Score (SAPS) II was 36.4±20; and median ICU stay was 4 (range, 1-193) days. Two hundred thirty-one patients (22%) died in the ICU. Fifty-four patients (5.1%) were colonized with MRSA on admission, and 52 (4.9%) of 1,044 acquired MRSA colonization in the ICU. Thirty-five patients developed a total of 42 S aureus infections (32 MRSA, 10 methi-cillin-susceptible). After factors associated with the development of an S aureus infection were adjusted for in a multivariate Cox model (SAPS II >36: hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; P=.09; male gender: HR, 2.2; P=.05), MRSA colonization increased the risk of S aureus infection (HR, 3.84; P=.0003). MRSA colonization did not influence ICU mortality (HR, 1.01; P=.94). Glycopeptides were used in 11.4% of the patients (119/1,044) for a median duration of 5 days. For patients with no colonization, MRSA colonization on admission, and ICU-acquired MRSA colonization, respectively, glycopeptide use per 1,000 hospital days was 37.7, 235.2, and 118.3 days. MRSA colonization per se increased by 3.3-fold the use of glycopeptides in MRSA-colonized patients, even when an MRSA infection was not demonstrated, compared to non-colonized patients.Conclusions:In our unit, MRSA colonization greatly increased the risk of S aureus infection and of glycopeptide use in colonized and non-colonized patients, without influencing ICU mortality. MRSA colonization influenced glycopeptide use even if an MRSA infection was not demonstrated; thus, an MRSA control program is warranted to decrease vancomycin use and to limit glycopeptide resistance in gram-positive cocci.

scholarly journals Discontinuation of contact precautions with the introduction of universal daily chlorhexidine bathing

2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (12) ◽  
pp. 2575-2581 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. MCKINNELL ◽  
S. J. EELLS ◽  
E. CLARK ◽  
D. D. RAND ◽  
G. T. KIET ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Change ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Contact Precaution ◽  
Hospital Policy ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Contact Precautions ◽  
Chlorhexidine Bathing ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Improve Patient

SUMMARYContact precautions are a traditional strategy to prevent transmission of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Chlorhexidine bathing is increasingly used to decrease MRSA burden and transmission in intensive care units (ICUs). We sought to evaluate a hospital policy change from routine contact precautions for MRSA compared with universal chlorhexidine bathing, without contact precautions. We measured new MRSA acquisition in ICU patients and surveyed for MRSA environmental contamination in common areas and non-MRSA patient rooms before and after the policy change. During the baseline and chlorhexidine bathing periods, the number of patients (453vs.417), ICU days (1999vs.1703) and MRSA days/1000 ICU days (109vs.102) were similar. MRSA acquisition (2/453vs.2/457,P= 0·93) and environmental MRSA contamination (9/474vs.7/500,P= 0·53) were not significantly different between time periods. There were 58% fewer contact precaution days in the ICU during the chlorhexidine period (241/1993vs. 102/1730,P< 0·01). We found no evidence that discontinuation of contact precautions for patients with MRSA in conjunction with adoption of daily chlorhexidine bathing in ICUs is associated with increased MRSA acquisition among ICU patients or increased MRSA contamination of ICU fomites. Although underpowered, our findings suggest this strategy, which has the potential to reduce costs and improve patient safety, should be assessed in similar but larger studies.

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