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High Prevalence of Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Hospital Admission in Elderly Patients: Implications for Infection Control Strategies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Jean-Christophe Lucet*
Affiliation:
Infection Control Unit, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Karine Grenet
Affiliation:
Bacteriology Laboratory, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Laurence Armand-Lefevre
Affiliation:
Bacteriology Laboratory, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Marion Harnal
Affiliation:
Infection Control Unit, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Elisabeth Bouvet
Affiliation:
Infection Control Committee, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Bernard Regnier
Affiliation:
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
Antoine Andremont
Affiliation:
Bacteriology Laboratory, Bichat-Claude Bernard Teaching Hospital, Assistance publique - hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
*
Unité d'Hygiène et de Lutte contre l'Infection Nosocomiale, GH Bichat-Claude Bernard, 75877 Paris Cedex 18, France. jean-christophe.lucet@bch.ap-hop-paris.fr

Abstract

Background:

Despite contact isolation precautions for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MRSA infections are increasing in many countries.

Objective:

To evaluate the role of a potential unrecognized reservoir of MRSA carried by patients in acute care wards, we determined the prevalence of MRSA at hospital admission, with special emphasis on screening-specimen yields.

Setting:

A 1,100-bed teaching hospital in Paris, France.

Methods:

Nasal screening cultures were performed at admission to a tertiary-care teaching hospital for patients older than 75 years.

Results:

MRSA was isolated from 63 (7.9%) of 797 patients. On the multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with MRSA carriage were presence of chronic skin lesions (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.10; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 2.52–10.33); transfer from a nursing home, rehabilitation unit, or long-term-care unit (AOR, 4.52; CI95, 2.23–9.18); and poor chronic health status (AOR, 1.80; CI95, 1.02–3.18). Without admission screening, 84.1% of MRSA carriers would have been missed at hospital admission and 76.2% during their hospital stay. Furthermore, 81.1% of days at risk for MRSA dissemination would have been spent without contact isolation precautions had admission screening not been performed.

Conclusions:

MRSA carriage at hospital admission is far more prevalent than MRSA-positive clinical specimens. This may contribute to failure of contact isolation programs. Screening cultures at admission help to identify the reservoir of unknown MRSA patients.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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