Monitoring and feedback of hand hygiene compliance and the impact on facility-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In 2006, we began monitoring hand hygiene compliance by direct observation. In 2006, with no changes in the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control program, a 38% reduction of facility-acquired rates for this organism was realized. These results indicate that focused monitoring of hand hygiene can reduce facility-acquired rates of MRSA.