Full contact precautions, including the use of cover gowns, may not be more effective in preventing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission than just wearing gloves, according to a study in American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers evaluated the effect of a bundle of infection control measures on MRSA transmission rates at two similar Veterans Health Administration hospitals. The bundle included four components:
• Institutional culture change
• Surveillance for MRSA infection and transmission
• Active screening for colonization
• Contact precautions for colonized patients
One hospital implemented Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended contact precautions, which include wearing a cover gown. The other hospital modified the precautions to include only the use of gloves.
During the four-year study period, hospital A had 1.58 MRSA transmissions per 1,000 patient days and hospital B had 1.56. Both hospitals significantly reduced MRSA healthcare-associated infections, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of MRSA HAIs or MRSA surgical site infections between the hospitals. Annual acquisition costs for cover gowns were $183,609 at hospital A and $25,812 at hospital B.
Study: Better Hand Hygiene Didn't Alter C. diff, MRSA Rates
Are Contact Precautions Necessary to Decrease Risk of Infection?
Researchers evaluated the effect of a bundle of infection control measures on MRSA transmission rates at two similar Veterans Health Administration hospitals. The bundle included four components:
• Institutional culture change
• Surveillance for MRSA infection and transmission
• Active screening for colonization
• Contact precautions for colonized patients
One hospital implemented Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended contact precautions, which include wearing a cover gown. The other hospital modified the precautions to include only the use of gloves.
During the four-year study period, hospital A had 1.58 MRSA transmissions per 1,000 patient days and hospital B had 1.56. Both hospitals significantly reduced MRSA healthcare-associated infections, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of MRSA HAIs or MRSA surgical site infections between the hospitals. Annual acquisition costs for cover gowns were $183,609 at hospital A and $25,812 at hospital B.
More Articles on MRSA:
More Community-Associated MRSA in Smaller vs. Larger HospitalsStudy: Better Hand Hygiene Didn't Alter C. diff, MRSA Rates
Are Contact Precautions Necessary to Decrease Risk of Infection?