title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Veterans Administration Medical Centers.
abstract: To determine the frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at Veterans Administration Medical Centers, 163 hospitals were surveyed; 137 responded. Between 1975 and 1984, the number of Veterans Administration Medical Centers with known MRSA increased from 3 to 111. This increase was geographically widespread and occurred in hospitals of all sizes. In Veterans Administration Medical Centers, isolation policies for MRSA-infected patients were (% of hospitals using): strict (19%), contact (52%), site-related (28%), no isolation (1%). For patients colonized with MRSA policies were: strict (15%), contact (44%), site-related (35%), and no isolation (6%). Only 41% of Veterans Administration Medical Centers reported discharging known MRSA-colonized patients to nursing homes. Most attempts to eradicate MRSA carriage used trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus rifampin with or without bacitracin ointment; success rates were low. MRSA incidence is increasing at Veterans Administration Medical Centers across the United States. Improved regimens to eliminate MRSA carriage are needed.
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010356:Patient Isolation; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin