Infection control strategies for preventing the transmission of meticillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) in nursing homes for older people

Abstract

The lack of studies in this field is surprising. Nursing homes for older people provide an environment likely to promote the acquisition and spread of infection, with observational studies repeatedly reporting that being a resident of a nursing home increases the risk of MRSA colonisation. Much of the evidence for recently-issued United Kingdom guidelines for the control and prevention of MRSA in health care facilities was generated in the acute care setting. It may not be possible to transfer such strategies directly to the nursing home environment, which serves as both a healthcare setting and a resident's home. Rigorous studies should be conducted in nursing homes, to test interventions that have been specifically designed for this unique environment.

Diversity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Residents of 26 Nursing Homes in Orange County, California

“…Not only does the complex operational structure of nursing homes, which act as both a health care setting and a resident's home, make it difficult for standard MRSA control practices to be implemented, but a standardized MRSA control strategy for nursing homes is yet to be agreed on, largely due to the lack of studies aimed at identifying appropriate strategies (19). There is also a general dearth of studies, particularly regional ones, investigating the makeup of the nursing home MRSA reservoir.…”

Diversity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Residents of 26 Nursing Homes in Orange County, California

“…Not only does the complex operational structure of nursing homes, which act as both a health care setting and a resident's home, make it difficult for standard MRSA control practices to be implemented, but a standardized MRSA control strategy for nursing homes is yet to be agreed on, largely due to the lack of studies aimed at identifying appropriate strategies (19). There is also a general dearth of studies, particularly regional ones, investigating the makeup of the nursing home MRSA reservoir.…”

Diversity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Residents of 26 Nursing Homes in Orange County, California

“…Not only does the complex operational structure of nursing homes, which act as both a health care setting and a resident's home, make it difficult for standard MRSA control practices to be implemented, but a standardized MRSA control strategy for nursing homes is yet to be agreed on, largely due to the lack of studies aimed at identifying appropriate strategies (19). There is also a general dearth of studies, particularly regional ones, investigating the makeup of the nursing home MRSA reservoir.…”

Diversity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Residents of 26 Nursing Homes in Orange County, California

“…Not only does the complex operational structure of nursing homes, which act as both a health care setting and a resident's home, make it difficult for standard MRSA control practices to be implemented, but a standardized MRSA control strategy for nursing homes is yet to be agreed on, largely due to the lack of studies aimed at identifying appropriate strategies (19). There is also a general dearth of studies, particularly regional ones, investigating the makeup of the nursing home MRSA reservoir.…”