BACKGROUND: Environmental contamination has been associated with over half of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks in hospitals. We explored if a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol would lower hospital acquired MRSA rates and associated costs. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of implementing a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol on the rate of MRSA infection and the potential cost benefit of the intervention. METHODS: A retrospective, pre-post interventional study design was used. The intervention comprised a combination of enhanced environmental cleaning of high touch surfaces, daily washing of patients with benzalkonium chloride, and targeted isolation of patients with active infection. The rate of MRSA infection per 1000 patient days (PD) was compared with the rate after the intervention (Steiros Algorithm®) was implemented. A cost-benefit analysis based on the number of MRSA infections avoided was conducted. RESULTS: The MRSA rates decreased by 96% from 3.04 per 1000 PD to 0.11 per 1000 PD (P <0.0001). This reduction in MRSA infections, avoided an estimated $1,655,143 in healthcare costs. DISCUSSION: Implementation of this hospital-wide protocol appears to be associated with a reduction in the rate of MRSA infection and therefore a reduction in associated healthcare costs.
BACKGROUND: Environmental contamination has been associated with over half of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreaks in hospitals. We explored if a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol would lower hospital acquired MRSA rates and associated costs. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the impact of implementing a hospital-wide environmental and patient cleaning protocol on the rate of MRSA infection and the potential cost benefit of the intervention. METHODS: A retrospective, pre-post interventional study design was used. The intervention comprised a combination of enhanced environmental cleaning of high touch surfaces, daily washing of patients with benzalkonium chloride, and targeted isolation of patients with active infection. The rate of MRSA infection per 1000 patient days (PD) was compared with the rate after the intervention (Steiros Algorithm®) was implemented. A cost-benefit analysis based on the number of MRSA infections avoided was conducted. RESULTS: The MRSA rates decreased by 96% from 3.04 per 1000 PD to 0.11 per 1000 PD (P <0.0001). This reduction in MRSA infections, avoided an estimated $1,655,143 in healthcare costs. DISCUSSION: Implementation of this hospital-wide protocol appears to be associated with a reduction in the rate of MRSA infection and therefore a reduction in associated healthcare costs.
Authors: Preeti Mehrotra; Lindsay Croft; Hannah R Day; Eli N Perencevich; Lisa Pineles; Anthony D Harris; Saul N Weingart; Daniel J Morgan Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2013-08-23 Impact factor: 3.254
Authors: Mary K Hayden; Marc J M Bonten; Donald W Blom; Elizabeth A Lyle; David A M C van de Vijver; Robert A Weinstein Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2006-04-27 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Raymund Dantes; Yi Mu; Ruth Belflower; Deborah Aragon; Ghinwa Dumyati; Lee H Harrison; Fernanda C Lessa; Ruth Lynfield; Joelle Nadle; Susan Petit; Susan M Ray; William Schaffner; John Townes; Scott Fridkin Journal: JAMA Intern Med Date: 2013-11-25 Impact factor: 21.873