Epidemiologic surveillance of multidrug-resistant bacteria in a teaching hospital: A 3-year experience.

Background: The objective of this prospective study was to verify the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary surveillance program that was implemented in a teaching hospital in southern Brazil, to prevent and control the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms.

Methods: The program implemented involved establishment of prevention guidelines, hand-hygiene promotion, isolation of patients colonized or infected by such organisms, enforced contact precautions, and terminal cleaning and disinfection of isolation rooms. A microbiology service, previously provided by an external laboratory, was established in the hospital. Detection of bacteria-resistant genes and molecular typing were performed also.

Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between the pre- and post-intervention periods (P = .00198). Control measures were effective in blocking the dissemination of a previously endemic clone of Acinetobacter baumannii. Changes were observed in the dissemination pattern, from a monoclonal to a polyclonal mode. The incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus during the surveillance period was low. Only 2 isolates of BLA-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae (distinct profiles), and 5 isolates of BLA-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa (a single cluster), were detected.

Conclusions: These results indicate that the surveillance program implemented was effective in preventing the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms in the hospital.