Epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Investigators
Dr Caroline Marshall
Assoc Prof Denis Spelman (Alfred Hospital)
Prof Steve Wesselingh (Alfred Hospital)

Funded by: N/A

The first part of this project consisted of surveillance for MRSA in the Alfred Hospital intensive care unit (ICU) to determine the incidence of new MRSA colonisations whilst in the ICU, the prevalence of MRSA colonisation on admission to ICU and some risk factors for new MRSA colonisation in ICU.  MRSA isolates were characterised by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and using the Riboprinter ™, an automated typing system.

Based on the results of the surveillance,  two further studies were carried out. The first was an intervention to improve hand hygiene in the ICU. The effectiveness of this was monitored using repeat MRSA screening. The second project looked at risk factors for MRSA acquisition in trauma patients in the ICU.

Marshall, C., G. Harrington, et al. (2003). "Acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a large intensive care unit.[see comment]." Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 24(5): 322-6.

Marshall, C., R. Wolfe, et al. (2004). "Risk factors for acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by trauma patients in the intensive care unit." Journal of Hospital Infection 57(3): 245-52.