INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Infection Prevention and Control



Infection Prevention and Control

What is Preventing Transmission of MRSA Infection in the NICU?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) refers to strains of the S. aureus bacterium that are resistant to the antimicrobial effects of methicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics (e.g., penicillins, cephalosporins). Colonization (i.e., the presence of bacteria on tissue such as skin, nares, trachea, umbilicus, perineum, trachea, or wound, without the presence of symptoms of clinical manifestations of illness or infection) with a drug-resistant bacterium is associated with significantly greater morbidity and mortality than colonization with a strain of bacteria that is susceptible to antibiotics (for more information, see Nursing Practice & Skill: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Identification and Surveillance and Nursing Practice & Skill: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Eradicating and Managing)

What: MRSA is highly transmissible, virulent, and difficult to eradicate due to its resistance to commonly used antibiotics. MRSA can lead to infections of the skin and soft tissue, organs (e.g., myocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis), and blood. Preventing MRSA transmission is particularly important in the NICU because newborns are highly susceptible to infection. For more details, see Why is Preventing Transmission of MRSA Infection in the NICU Important?, below

How: Preventing transmission of MRSA infection in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is achieved by strictly adhering to infection control practices, which include

Observing Standard Precautions for all patients (i.e., practices that include hand hygiene, wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment [PPE], safe injection practices, and prevention, proper cleaning, and disinfection of equipment or items in the patient environment likely to have been contaminated with infectious body fluids.

Observing Contact Precautions and transmission-based (isolation) precautions for patients with MRSA infection

family/caregiver teaching

Where and Who: Preventing the spread of MRSA in the NICU requires the collaborated efforts of healthcare workers who provide direct patient care (e.g., nurses, physicians, assistive healthcare personnel), environmental service workers, administrators (e.g., management, infection control, risk management, quality control), and visitors

What is the Desired Outcome of Undertaking Efforts to Prevent Transmission of MRSA Infection in the NICU?

The desired outcome of undertaking efforts to prevent transmission of MRSA in the NICU is to prevent the spread of infection

Why is Preventing Transmission of MRSA Infection in the NICU Important?

MRSA infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among infants hospitalized in the NICU. Preventing spread of infection is important for all patients but especially for neonates because their immune systems have not fully developed. Preterm newborns are at greatest risk for MRSA-related infection. Even healthy newborns are highly susceptible to infection due to their physiologic immaturity and because their skin does not act as an adequate barrier to infection during the first months following birth

Infants who are colonized with MRSA and cared for in the NICU are at high risk of developing MRSA infection because of their immunocompromised state and the invasive nature of many necessary procedures. Early identification of newborns who are colonized with MRSA can prevent the development of MRSA infection

Infection control strategies designed to reduce transmission are critical ...