Nationwide Progress Poll Reveals Increased Efforts by Hospitals to Control MRSA Infection

	
		

    Healthcare Facility Infection Prevention and Control Professionals Cite
Greatest Needs for Continued Success to Combat MRSA Including Additional
Staff, More Environmental Services and Time-Saving High Tech Solutions

    DENVER, June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than three out of four
(76%) infection prevention and control professionals (ICPs) polled
indicated they have implemented additional measures to prevent the
transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the
last year, but 54% said their institutions are not doing as much as they
could and should be doing to prevent the spread of this virulent pathogen,
according to an online survey conducted by the Association for
Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

    MRSA is a type of bacteria that causes serious infections and is
resistant to powerful antibiotics, including methicillin. APIC's 2007 MRSA
prevalence study found rates to be eight times greater than previously
estimated. The "Pace of Progress" poll was conducted among APIC members
April 25-May 15, 2008 to determine if news about the escalating rates of
MRSA has led to increased efforts by healthcare institutions to combat the
spread of this organism in the one year since the prevalence study results
were released.

    "We are very encouraged that our members have been empowered to
implement additional infection prevention measures within their
institutions," said Kathy Warye, APIC CEO. "This poll indicates that many
institutions are moving in the right direction."

    According to the May 2008 APIC Pace of Progress poll, institutions that
have adopted new interventions are using a group of approaches to prevent
the transmission of MRSA, including staff education, more aggressive hand
hygiene programs, stricter use of contact precautions (gloves, gowns, etc.)
for patients who test positive for MRSA, more emphasis on housekeeping and
equipment cleaning and decontamination practices, targeted patient
screening, maintaining a tracking system to flag patients previously
identified as having MRSA, patient/client education, better HAI
surveillance technology, additional staff or an increase in hours dedicated
to infection control, and universal patient screening.

    "It's good news that healthcare providers are adopting a multi-faceted
approach," said APIC's 2008 President Janet E. Frain, RN, CIC, CPHQ, CPHRM,
Director, Integrated Services, Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, CA.
"This is what we have seen works, and it matches the guidance that we offer
in our MRSA elimination guide for hospitals. We are also heartened to see
that of those who adopted new measures to combat MRSA, 17% were able to add
staff and 21% added better HAI surveillance technology. But we need to see
this upward trend continue if we are to better protect patients from
healthcare-associated infections."



    Of those who believe their facility could and should be doing more to
control the spread of MRSA, two of the top items on their wish list include
additional staff and HAI surveillance technology. Other top choices include
more aggressive hand hygiene programs and greater compliance with
housekeeping/equipment cleaning and decontamination practices.



    APIC guidelines for the elimination of MRSA transmission include a risk
assessment to identify high-risk areas for MRSA within the hospital;
surveillance program to outline activities and procedures to identify MRSA
cases; adherence to CDC hand hygiene guidelines; use of contact precautions
(e.g., gloves, gowns and separating MRSA patients from other patients);
environmental and equipment cleaning and decontamination, especially items
that are close to patients such as bedrails and bedside equipment, and
targeted testing of high-risk groups.

    "We are concerned that there are still some facilities that lack
resources and commitment across the institution," said Warye. "With the
increasing groundswell of hospitals supporting MRSA prevention programs,
those facilities continuing to ignore the problem will be in an
uncomfortable spotlight. As organisms such as MRSA develop increased
antibiotic resistance, it is imperative that all of our nation's healthcare
professionals, from the executive suite to the bed side, embrace the
concept of prevention. Reducing these infections saves lives and improves
the bottom line. We invite our nation's healthcare leaders to join with us
in our Targeting Zero initiatives designed to bring healthcare-associated
infections to an irreducible minimum."

    The 2008 APIC Pace of Progress poll was conducted among APIC members
April 25-May 15, 2008. APIC's nearly 12,000 members were asked to complete
a five-question online survey designed to determine if additional MRSA
interventions have been adopted since the release of APIC's National MRSA
Prevalence Study in June 2007. A total of 2,041 responses were received,
representing a 17% response rate. For more information about the 2008 Pace
of Progress poll and the 2007 National MRSA Prevalence Study, please visit
http://www.apic.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=National_MRSA_Prevalence_Study&
Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=10544

    APIC's mission is to improve health and patient safety by reducing
risks of infection and other adverse outcomes. The Association's nearly
12,000 members have primary responsibility for infection prevention,
control and hospital epidemiology in health care settings around the globe.
APIC advances its mission through education, research, collaboration,
practice guidance, public policy, and credentialing. Visit APIC online at
http://www.apic.org