Patient Safety
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infections in both the hospital as well as the community as a whole. MRSA is a type of bacteria strain resistant to methicillin and other common antibiotics, such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Hospitalizations associated with MRSA infections have been on the rise and are contributing to extended length of stay. A dynamic action plan with clear goals, that permits timely recognition of patient and health care personnel at risk of MRSA, can aid in the prevention of transmission.
A report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
indicated that hospitalizations associated with MRSA increased tenfold
between 1995 and 2005; more than tripled from 2000 to 2005; and increased
30 percent from 2004 to 2005. Cost was increased with MRSA
hospitalizations and the length of stay was more than doubled compared
with other stays. Hospitalization death rates increased from 2.1 percent to
4.7 percent for MRSA stays. 1
In IFMC's commitment to patient safety, our aim is to assist eligible hospitals with the development of an active MSRA surveillance program. Along with incorporating our successful quality improvement methodologies and training expertise, this goal is supported by an evidence-based teamwork system approach called TeamSTEPPS. TeamSTEPPS was developed by the Department of Defense Patient Safety Program, in collaboration with AHRQ. As TeamSTEPPS Master Trainers we provide training and guidance in strategies and tools to enhance performance and patient safety, which can be used in directing your team’s MRSA prevention and reduction initiative.
To learn more details about our work in the areas of MRSA or TeamSTEPPS and how we might be able to assist your hospital, contact our Patient Safety Team at 1-800-383-2856.
Click here for MRSA resources and publications
1 Elixhauser, A and Steiner, C. Infections with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in US Hospitals, 1993-2005. ARHQ Statistical Brief #35. July 2005