Veterans Affairs initiative to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Background: Health care-associated infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been an increasing concern in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.

Methods: A "MRSA bundle" was implemented in 2007 in acute care VA hospitals nationwide in an effort to decrease health care-associated infections with MRSA. The bundle consisted of universal nasal surveillance for MRSA, contact precautions for patients colonized or infected with MRSA, hand hygiene, and a change in the institutional culture whereby infection control would become the responsibility of everyone who had contact with patients.

Beyond beta: lessons learned from implementation of the Department of Veterans Affairs Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prevention Initiative.

To describe the key strategies and potential pitfalls involved with implementing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Prevention Initiative in a qualitative evaluation, we conducted in-depth interviews with MRSA Prevention Coordinators at 17 VA beta sites at 2 time points during program implementation.

Survey of employee knowledge and attitudes before and after a multicenter Veterans' Administration quality improvement initiative to reduce nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Background: Although guidelines currently recommend prevention practices to decrease in-hospital transmission of infections, increasing adherence to the practices remains a challenge. This study assessed the effect of a multicenter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention initiative on changes in employees' knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were distributed at baseline (October 2006) and follow-up (July 2007) at 17 medical centers participating in the Veterans' Administration (VA) MRSA initiative.