Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and hospitalization in high-risk patients in the year following detection.

Background: Many studies have evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections during single hospitalizations and subsequent readmissions to the same institution. None have assessed the comprehensive burden of MRSA infection in the period after hospital discharge while accounting for healthcare utilization across institutions.

Methodology/principal Findings: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients insured by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care who were newly-detected to harbor MRSA between January 1991 and December 2003 at a tertiary care medical center.

Impact of routine intensive care unit surveillance cultures and resultant barrier precautions on hospital-wide methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Background: Serial interventions are often used to reduce the risk of health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. To our knowledge, the relative impact of these interventions has not previously been ascertained.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 4 major infection control interventions using an interrupted time series design to evaluate their impact on MRSA bacteremia in an 800-bed hospital with 8 intensive care units (ICUs).