IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 1500: Assessing the Potential Impact of a Long ‐Acting Skin Disinfectant in the Prevention of Methicillin‐ Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Transmission

IJERPH, Vol. 17, Pages 1500: Assessing the Potential Impact of a Long‐Acting Skin Disinfectant in the Prevention of Methicillin‐ Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Transmission International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph17051500 Authors: Short Mietchen Lofgren Healthcare‐associated transmission of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)remains a persistent problem. The use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as a means of decolonizingpatients, either through targeted decolonization or daily bathing, is frequently used to supplementother interventions. We explore the potential of a long‐acting disinfectant with a persistent effect,immediate decolonizing action in the prevention of MRSA acquisition, and clinical illness andmortality in an 18‐bed intensive care unit, based on a previous model. A scenario with nointervention is compared to CHG bathing, which decolonizes patients but provides no additionalprotection, and a hypothetical treatment that both decolonizes them and provides protection fromsubsequent colonization. The duration and effectiveness of this protection is varied to fully explorethe potential utility of such a treatment. Increasing the effectiveness of the decolonizing agentreduces colonization, with a 10% increase resulting in a colonization rate ratio (RR) of 0.89 (95% CI:0.89,0.90). Increasing the duration of protection results in a much more modest reduction, with a 12‐hour increa...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research