Special Approaches
Note: Special approaches are recommended for use in locations and/or populations within
the hospital that have unacceptably high MRSA rates despite implementation of the basic
MRSA transmission and infection prevention strategies listed above.
Active surveillance testing (AST)
Î Implement a MRSA AST program as part of a multifaceted strategy to
control and prevent MRSA (II).
Î Screen HCP for MRSA infection or colonization if they are
epidemiologically linked to a cluster of MRSA infections (III).
Gowns and Gloves
Î Use gowns and gloves when providing care to or entering the room of
all adult ICU patients (II).
MRSA decolonization therapy
Note: MRSA decolonization therapy can be defined as the administration of topical
antimicrobial or antiseptic agents, with or without systemic antimicrobial therapy, for the
purpose of eradicating or suppressing the carrier state.
Î Provide targeted decolonization therapy to MRSA-colonized patients in
conjunction with an AST program (II).
Î Provide universal decolonization to ICU patients (I) with daily
chlorhexidine bathing and intranasal mupirocin.
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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
