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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