Reservoirs
Î In the healthcare facility, antimicrobial use provides a selective
advantage for MRSA to survive.
Î The reservoir for MRSA in hospitals includes colonized or infected
patients and HCPs as well as contaminated objects within the patient
care environment. Transmission is complex but occurs largely through
patient-to-patient spread.
Basic Practices for Preventing MRSA Transmission and
Infection: Recommended for All Acute Care Hospitals
Î Conduct a MRSA risk assessment (III).
• The risk assessment should be attentive to 2 important factors: the opportunity
for MRSA transmission and estimates of the facility-specific MRSA burden and
rates of transmission and infection.
• Findings from the risk assessment should be used to develop the hospital's
surveillance, prevention, and control plan and to develop goals to reduce MRSA
acquisition and transmission.
Î Implement a MRSA monitoring program (III).
• The MRSA monitoring program should have 2 goals:
▶ Identify any patient with a current or prior history of MRSA to ensure
application of infection prevention strategies for these patients according to
hospital policy (eg, contact precautions).
▶ Provide a mechanism for tracking hospital-onset cases of MRSA for purposes
of assessing transmission and infection and the need for response.
Î Promote compliance with CDC or WHO hand hygiene recommendations
(II).
Î Use contact precautions for MRSA-colonized and MRSA-infected
patients (II).
Î Ensure cleaning and disinfection of equipment and the environment (II).
Î Educate HCPs about MRSA (III).
Î Implement a laboratory-based alert system that notifies HCPs of new
MRSA-colonized or MRSA-infected patients in a timely manner (III).
Î Implement an alert system that identifies readmitted or transferred
MRSA-colonized or MRSA-infected patients (III).
Î Provide MRSA data and outcome measures to key stakeholders,
including senior leadership, physicians, nursing staff, and others (III).
Î Educate patients and their families about MRSA (III).
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