Colonization with health care-associated pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, Gram-negative organisms, and Clostridium difficile is associated with increased risk of infection. Decolonization is an evidence-based intervention that can be used to prevent health care-associated infections (HAIs). This review evaluates agents used for nasal topical decolonization, topical (e.g., s...

BACKGROUND Control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission has been unsuccessful in many hospitals. Recommended control measures include isolation of colonized patients, rather than decolonization of carriage among patients and/or health care workers. Yet, the potential effects of such measures are poorly understood. METHODS We use a stochastic simulation model in w...

OBJECTIVE To estimate and compare the impact on healthcare costs of 3 alternative strategies for reducing bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit (ICU): methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nares screening and isolation, targeted decolonization (ie, screening, isolation, and decolonization of MRSA carriers or infections), and universal decolonization (ie, no screening an...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a standardized regimen for decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers and to identify factors influencing decolonization treatment failure. DESIGN Prospective cohort study from January 2002 to April 2007, with a mean follow-up period of 36 months. SETTING University hospital with 750 beds and 27,000 admissions/year. ...

BACKGROUND Both targeted decolonization and universal decolonization of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) are candidate strategies to prevent health care-associated infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS We conducted a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial. Hospitals were randomly assigned to one of three strategies, with all a...

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common organism responsible for orthopaedic surgical site infections (SSIs) after elective joint arthroplasty. Patients who are carriers for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) have a higher likelihood of having invasive MRSA infections[1]. Some reports have suggested that screening and decolonization of all patients having elective joint arthrop...

BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism responsible for orthopaedic surgical site infections (SSIs). Patients who are carriers for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) have a higher likelihood of having invasive S. aureus infections. Although some have advocated screening for S. aureus and decolonizing it is unclear whether these efforts...

PURPOSE Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decolonization is a widely established, though controversial part of many MRSA controlling strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate our decolonization success rate, identify the risk factors for decolonization failure and determine the optimal duration of follow-up in our low MRSA prevalence setting (2.6 % of isolates). METHO...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To describe the latest evidence for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection control strategies, with particular emphasis on active surveillance cultures with contact precautions and targeted decolonization, and their impact. RECENT FINDINGS Several major trials published last year questioned the effectiveness of universal screening and contact precaution...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the economic value of preoperative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening and decolonization for cardiac surgery patients. STUDY DESIGN Monte Carlo decision-analytic computer simulation model. METHODS We developed a computer simulation model representing the decision of whether to perform preoperative MRSA screening and decolonizing those patients...