Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs)
caused almost 100,000 deaths among the 2.1 million people who
acquired infections while hospitalized in 2000, and HAI rates have
risen relentlessly since then. Alarmingly, 70% of HAIs are due to
bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, with
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) being the most
rapidly growing, and among the most virulent, pathogens. Resistance
is increasing rapidly in all types of hospitals (Huang 2007).
Despite evidence that routinely applied, simple interventions do
work, most hospitals have failed to make notable progress in
reducing MRSA infections. Hospitals in some European countries and
select US hospitals, however, have succeeded with impressive
results. Sites that have already achieved dramatic decreases in
their MRSA infection rates have done so by implementing precautions
to prevent transmission, using system redesign approaches. Further,
many hospitals have successfully instituted isolation procedures
for patients suspected to be MRSA carriers. In doing so, these
hospitals have followed the broadly disseminated guidelines for
hand hygiene and contact isolation precautions. This study is a
follow up to a recent study implemented in 6 hospital systems in
the Indianapolis metropolitan area that used a "MRSA intervention
bundle" composed of active surveillance screening, contact
isolation precautions, and increased hand hygiene.
US Code:
42
USC 299 Name of Law: Healthcare Research and Quality Act of
1999
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