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

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: MRSApositive 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.

Surveillance of multi-drug resistant pathogens in two Romanian university hospitals

“…The survey indicates that the practices of isolating MRSa positive patients in single room, perform MRSa screening based on risk categories in hospitals and nursing homes, and decolonisation of MRSa carriers may well be the most successful, and are commended as best practices. 20 MDR bacteria do not respect borders and physicians, laboratories should be aware of the risk posed by transfer of patients from hospitals in other countries. 21 In this context, rapid and effective international communication is important to prevent the further spread of emerging MDR microorganisms.…”

Systematic literature analysis and review of targeted preventive measures to limit healthcare-associated infections by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…the Nordic countries and the Netherlands) and high prevalence countries (e.g. France, Germany, and the United Kingdom), where a combination of these measures are the standard of care and a reduction in MRSA infections has recently been achieved by coordinated efforts even in high prevalence settings [5,122].…”

“…hand hygiene and transmission-based precautions) have been used for general infection control, and their effectiveness has been reviewed extensively [3,4]. However, there is an ongoing discussion about the evidence for the effectiveness of several more specific prevention methods which, nevertheless, have been included in standards for the prevention and control of MRSA in a majority of European countries [5]. Therefore, the scope of this review was to analyse systematically recent literature (published after 2000) with respect to the following questions related to MRSA prevention and control:…”

MRSA – Kann das niederländische Hygienemodell auf Deutschland übertragen werden?

“…Für die Niederlande gibt es klare Stellungnahmen, dass ein Screening kosteneffektiv ist [1]. Für Deutschland ist dies ebenfalls anzunehmen [28][29][30].…”