Comparison of recommendations in national/regional Guidelines for prevention and control of MRSA in thirteen European countries

Authors

  • Smilja Kalenic University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb
  • Barry Cookson Laboratory of Healt Care Associated Infection (LHCAI) and WHO Reference and Research Centre
  • Rose Gallagher Royal College of Nursing
  • Walter Popp Universitaetsklinikum Essen, Krankenhaushygiene
  • Angel Asensio-Vegas Preventive Medicine Department University, Hospital Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda, Madrid
  • Ojan Assadian Department for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Division of Hospital Hygiene, Medical Universoity of Vienna, Vienna
  • Annette Blok Region Nordjylland, Infektionshygiejnen, Aalborg
  • Silvio Brusaferro Department of clinical and experimenta pathology, University of Udien, Hospital Hygiene and risk management unit, Udine
  • Anne Eastaway Health Protection Scotland, Glasgow
  • Petter Elstrom Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo
  • Miroslava Girod Schreinerova Ministry of Health,, Department of Epidemiology, Prague
  • Philippe Hartemann Service d'hygiene hospitaliere, Centre hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy
  • Bjorn R.G. Iversen Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Olso
  • Beatrice Jans Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels
  • Anne Jul-Jorgensen Hillerod Hospital, Hillerod
  • Walter Koller Department for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Division of Hopsital Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna
  • Axel Kramer Institut fur Hygiene und Umwelmedizin der Universitat Greifswald, Greifswald
  • Doris Laugesen Sydvestjysk Sygehus, Esbjerg
  • Monica Licker University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babes, temisoara
  • Kerstin Mannerquist Swedish Institute for Infectious Diseases Control, Stockholm
  • Barbara Nussbaum Stiffung Ortopedische Univ.-Klinik, Heidelberg
  • Pierre Parneix Southwestern healthcare-associated infection control centre Bordeaux university hospital, Bordeaux
  • Truus de Ruiter Groene Hart Ziekenhuis, Gouda
  • Elsebeth Tvenstrup Jensen National cntre on Antimicrobials and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Cpenhagen
  • Leo Ummels UMC, Nijmegen
  • Klaus-Dieter Zastrow Institut fur Hygiene und Umweltmedicin, Klinicum Spandau, Berlin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v6i2.5138

Abstract

A comparison of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention and control recommendations, as stated in national/regional guidelines of 13 European countries was performed based on a structured questionnaire filled by representatives of professional societies or institutions. The aim of this study was to be a source of guidelines, references and views which can inform discussions at national/regional/local levels. Countries were devided in two groups based on proportion of MRSA in blood cultures positive with Staphylococcus aureus retrieved from EARSS 2008: low proportion (4 countries) and higher proportion (9 countries). Guidelines from all respective countries have several common general recommendations: MRSA-positive patients have to have the same care as those that are not carrying MRSA, hand hygiene measures including the use of alcohol hand rubs are identified as important in the prevention of MRSA spread, environmental cleaning and/or disinfection has to be performed routinely, and personal protective equipment has to be used whilst working with MRSA positive patients. Surveillance and screening is also a part of all guidelines. Major differences among low and higher MRSA proportion countries, identified as successful practices, were: have guidelines and update it regularly, have guidelines not only for hospitals, but also for nursing homes and home practice, isolate MRSA positive patients in single room, perform MRSA screening based on risk categories in hospitals and nursing homes, and perform decolonisation of MRSA carriers.

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Author Biography

Smilja Kalenic, University of Zagreb Medical School, Zagreb

Head, reference Centre for Hospital Infections

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Published

2010-03-23

How to Cite

Kalenic, S., Cookson, B., Gallagher, R., Popp, W., Asensio-Vegas, A., Assadian, O., … Zastrow, K.-D. (2010). Comparison of recommendations in national/regional Guidelines for prevention and control of MRSA in thirteen European countries. International Journal of Infection Control, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.3396/ijic.v6i2.5138

Issue

Section

Practice Forum