A survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control strategies in Italy.

Purpose: Data regarding the implementation of state-of-the-art methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control procedures in Italy are lacking. There is a need to evaluate compliance with MRSA recommendations (CR) in Italian hospitals.

Methods: A 67-question closed-answer survey was sent to all Italian hospitals, in order to analyze and evaluate program consistency with CR [hand hygiene (HH), contact precautions, screening of high-risk patients, decolonization, feedback on surveillance data, and antimicrobial guidelines and education programs].

Surveillance of hospital-acquired infections in Liguria, Italy: results from a regional prevalence study in adult and paediatric acute-care hospitals.

A multi-hospital prevalence study of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) was carried out between 19 March and 6 April 2007 in Liguria, Italy, being the first to be performed in this region. Of the 29 existing public acute hospitals, 25 took part in the investigation (86.2%).