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Nosocomial Acquisition of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus During an Outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Susan M. Poutanen ,
Mary Vearncombe ,
Allison J. McGeer ,
Michael Gardam ,
Grant Large  and
Andrew E. Simor
Susan M. Poutanen
Affiliation:
Toronto Medical Laboratories andMount Sinai Hospital, Ontario Canada University of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Mary Vearncombe
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Ontario Canada Sunnybrook andWomen's College Health Sciences Centre, Ontario Canada
Allison J. McGeer
Affiliation:
Toronto Medical Laboratories andMount Sinai Hospital, Ontario Canada University of Toronto, Ontario Canada
Michael Gardam
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Ontario Canada University Health Network, Ontario Canada
Grant Large
Affiliation:
Scarborough Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Andrew E. Simor*
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Ontario Canada Sunnybrook andWomen's College Health Sciences Centre, Ontario Canada
*
Department of Microbiology, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, B121-2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4N 3M5.andrew.simor@sw.ca
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Abstract

Objective:

The four hospitals assessed in this study use active surveillance cultures for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and contact precautions for MRSA-positive patients as part of routine infection control practices. The objective of this study was to determine whether nosocomial acquisition of MRSA decreased in these hospitals during an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) when barrier precautions were routinely used for all patients.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Three tertiary-care hospitals (a 1,100-bed hospital; a 500-bed hospital; and an 823-bed hospital) and a 430-bed community hospital, each located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Patients:

All admitted patients were included.

Results:

The nosocomial rate of MRSA in all four hospitals combined during the SARS outbreak (3.7 per 10,000 patient-days) was not significantly different from that before (4.7 per 10,000 patient-days) or after (3.4 per 10,000 patient-days) the outbreak (P = .30 and P = .76, respectively). The nosocomial rate of MRSA after the outbreak was significantly lower than that before the outbreak (P = .003). Inappropriate reuse of gloves and gowns and failure to wash hands between patients on non-SARS wards were observed during the outbreak. Increased attention was paid to infection control education following the outbreak.

Conclusions:

Inappropriate reuse of gloves and gowns and failure to wash hands between patients may have contributed to transmission of MRSA during the SARS outbreak. Attention should be paid to training healthcare workers regarding the appropriate use of precautions as a means to protect themselves and patients.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 2 , February 2005 , pp. 134 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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