Multidrug-resistant organisms, including MRSA
- Multi-drug resistant organisms
- Control of antibiotic resistance
- CDC recommendations to prevent MDRO transmission
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Multi-drug resistant organisms
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have important infection control implications in all healthcare settings. Because the severity and extent of disease caused by MDROs varies by the patient population and type of care setting (e.g., long-term care facility, intensive care units), the approaches to prevention and control need to be tailored to the specific needs of each population and individual institution. The prevention and control of MDROs is a national priority – one that requires that all healthcare facilities and agencies assume responsibility.
Control of antimicrobial resistance
A major factor in the emergence of antibiotic resistant organisms is overuse of antibiotics in any setting, the hospital or the community. There are numerous national efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics or promote appropriate use in the community and all healthcare delivery systems.
Antimicrobial resistance took a long time to develop – considering that penicillin resistance began soon after its discovery in the 1940s. So it will not be fixed overnight, solutions will not be simple, and there is no single solution.
There are number of national initiatives to control antimicrobial resistance by public, private and professional groups. CDC has outlined a campaign – a 12-step program to prevent antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings. Key steps include vaccination to prevent infections (e.g., pneumococcal vaccination), removal of devices as soon as feasible, and effective diagnosis and appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. There are other resources to encourage proper use of antibiotics, such as the Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition as well as the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) antibiotic stewardship guidelines.
- CDC Web site for preventing antimicrobial resistance:
- Download – 12-step program for hospitals (pdf) (54kb)
- MARR Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition
- IDSA Antibiotic stewardship guidelines
CDC recommendations to prevent MDRO transmission
The CDC’s guideline on “Management of MDROs in Healthcare Settings, 2006” includes a road map for developing a comprehensive, multifaceted approach to stop the transmission of MDROs including elements such as antimicrobial use, finding resources for a program, and surveillance. The recommendations challenge hospitals to implement a program that documents reduction and to accomplish that, recommends a two-tiered approach.
- Tier one is based on implementation of standard precautions (SP) and an assessment of a facility's "problem organism(s)." Tier 1 includes measuring how staff adhere to SP and whether the rate of infection from the targeted organism (e.g., MRSA, is dropping over time). If the rate of hand hygiene and use of SP is high, but the rate of MRSA is not dropping, the facility would implement activities described in the second tier.
- Tier two recommends that staff continue to use contact precautions for any patient known to be colonized or infected with the target pathogen, which includes personnel putting on gowns and gloves before or upon entry to such a patient’s room. Staff may also consider use of culturing all patients looking for the targeted organism, using contact precautions for each patient cultured with the specific organism has negative surveillance cultures.
- CDC Guidelines for MDRO and Isolation
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
MRSA is the most common MDRO causing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). MRSA can cause a range of infections from mild skin infections to more severe infections of the bloodstream, lungs and surgical sites. In the October 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the CDC estimated 94,000 serious, invasive drug-resistant Staph aureus infections (MRSA) occurred in the U.S. in 2005 with an estimate of MRSA deaths greater than 18,000. This study established the first national baseline by which to assess future trends in invasive MRSA infections.
In testimony to Congress in November 2007, Julie Gerberding, Director of CDC, noted that MRSA was not a new problem, but the attention and public anxiety are new. MRSA mostly commonly causes skin infections, such as boils and abscesses; however, sometimes can spread to cause life-threatening blood infections.
In healthcare settings, MRSA occurs most frequently among patients who undergo invasive medical procedures or who have weakened immune systems and are being treated in hospitals and healthcare facilities such as nursing homes and dialysis centers.
Although much of the media attention has focused on this single organism, MRSA, it is only one of many organisms causing both HAIs and community infections. However, healthcare providers are encouraged that the media attention on MRSA will highlight the seriousness of HAIs and assist with efforts to secure additional resources for tracking, prevention and elimination of all types of HAIs.
- See the JAMA summary (doc) (33kb) (Morbidity and mortality of MRSA)
- Gerberding Congressional testimony, November 7, 2007
For more information on HAI and MRSA, see Resources and tools.