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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Veterans Administration Medical Centers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Laurel C. Preheim ,
David Rimland  and
Marvin J. Bittner
Laurel C. Preheim*
Affiliation:
Medical Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
David Rimland
Affiliation:
Medical Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
Marvin J. Bittner
Affiliation:
Medical Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska
*
Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Avenue, Omaha, NE 68105
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Abstract

To determine the frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at Veterans Administration Medical Centers, 163 hospitals were surveyed; 137 responded. Between 1975 and 1984, the number of Veterans Administration Medical Centers with known MRSA increased from 3 to 111. This increase was geographically widespread and occurred in hospitals of all sizes. In Veterans Administration Medical Centers, isolation policies for MRSA-infected patients were (% of hospitals using): strict (19%), contact (52%), site-related (28%), no isolation (1%). For patients colonized with MRSA policies were: strict (15%), contact (44%), site-related (35%), and no isolation (6%). Only 41% of Veterans Administration Medical Centers reported discharging known MRSA-colonized patients to nursing homes. Most attempts to eradicate MRSA carriage used trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus rifampin with or without bacitracin ointment; success rates were low. MRSA incidence is increasing at Veterans Administration Medical Centers across the United States. Improved regimens to eliminate MRSA carriage are needed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , May 1987 , pp. 191 - 194
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1987

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