As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, hospitals have faced a daunting challenge in controlling the spread of infection. But a new study has found that hospitals that maintained strict control measures during the pandemic saw a significant decrease in the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. This is a promising development in the fight against hospital-associated infections, and underscores the importance of continuing to prioritize infection control measures even amidst a global health crisis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veterans Affairs facilities that practiced active surveillance and contact precautions reported fewer healthcare-associated MRSA infections, especially in ICUs. Brian McCauley, DPM, MHSA, the national Veterans Affairs multidrug-resistant organisms program manager, discussed the VA’s MRSA prevention initiative, which was created in 2007 to reduce healthcare-associated MRSA infections across all 130 acute-care VA facilities as well as long-term care facilities. Additionally, the VA suspended several precautions like active surveillance screening to conserve PPE resources for COVID-19 testing in facilities. McCauley assessed the effects of suspending active surveillance and contact precautions for patients colonized or infected with MRSA in a prospective cohort study from July 2020 to June 2022 at 123 acute-care VA medical facilities. During this study, 917,591 admissions were made accounting for 5,225,174 patient-days, and 568 MRSA HAIs were reported. The results of the study showed that the MRSA HAI rate for all infection sites in facilities practicing AS, CPC and CPI was 0.07 (95% CI, 0.05-0.08) per 1,000 patient days in non-ICUs, compared to 0.12 (95% CI, 0.08-0.19) for those not practicing any of these strategies. In ICUs, the HAI rate was 0.2 (95% CI, 0.15-0.26) and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.41-0.98) for the respective policies. These infection rates were also similar when the researchers restricted the analyses to MRSA bloodstream HAIs. McCauley said that even after accounting for monthly COVID-19 admissions, the relationship between facility policy and MRSA HAI rates in ICUs or non-ICUs did not change, adding that “MRSA HAI rates increased as the number of interventions decreased”. Therefore, it is suggested that the impact of these precautions is greater in ICUs compared with non-ICUs and the differences in rates between ICUs and non-ICUs may be a point for policy decisions.
As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, it has become increasingly clear that basic infection control measures, such as hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, and regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces, are more critical than ever. This holds true not only for preventing the spread of COVID-19 but also for other infectious diseases such as MRSA.
Hospitals that have continued to prioritize infection control measures have seen remarkable improvements in preventing MRSA transmission, demonstrating the value of maintaining these practices even in the midst of a pandemic. While the pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on healthcare facilities, it has also emphasized the importance of maintaining infection control practices and the role they play in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of patients and healthcare providers alike.
As we continue to navigate the challenges of the pandemic, a renewed commitment to infection control measures can be the key to protecting not only ourselves but also those around us, ensuring that we are all healthy and safe today and in the future.
