Mass Screening for MRSA Not Cost-Effective
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that completing screening of all patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureua (MRSA) who will be admitted to the hospital is an ineffective use of resources. As well, isolating those patients with does not reduce disease spread.
The study published was completed over an eighteen month period at the University of Geneva Hospitals and Medical School. The team screened over 21,750 patients who were undergoing surgery. The standard hospital protocol was compared to mass screening and isolation for those patients with infection.
Patients with positive tests for MRSA were treated with a five day antibiotic regimen. Isolation precautions were also employed for this trial in one group but not for the standard treatment cohort. Importantly, isolation is associated with significant cost increases along with straining resources in hospitals.
Of the patients screened, 515 tested positive for MRSA. 337 of those patients would not have been identified if the broad screening approach was not implemented; those individuals had not been identified prior to admission as MRSA carriers.
As well, 96 patients who had been screened later developed MRSA during their hospitalization. These patients were in units were other patients who had MRSA were isolated. Comparatively, 75 patients in the units where the isolation precautions were not implemented MRSA.
Statistics suggest that approximately 85 percent of MRSA infections are contracted in the hospital. A variety of approaches are being considered to determine the ideal approach to reduce spread of the infection, which can lead to death in patients who have weakened immune systems.
The study provides public health and infection control experts with some valuable, real-life data from a large study. The findings do not support mass use of screening approaches, which have been implemented in some hospitals across the United States. Instead, the research team recommends a targeted screening approach such as assessing patients at higher risk of developing MRSA.
Related story: Study Details Incidence of MRSA Infections
March 19, 2008 Related topics: Hygiene & Cleanliness, Diagnostic