Management of outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the neonatal intensive care unit: a consensus statement.
OBJECTIVE
In 2002, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH; Chicago, Illinois) convened the Chicago-Area Neonatal MRSA Working Group (CANMWG) to discuss and compare approaches aimed at control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). To better understand these issues on a regional level, the CDPH and the Evanston Department of Health and Human Services (EDHHS; Evanston, Illinois) began an investigation.


METHODS
Survey to collect demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and epidemiologic data on individual cases and clusters of MRSA infection; an additional survey collected data on infection control practices.


METHODS
Level III NICUs at Chicago-area hospitals.


METHODS
Neonates and healthcare workers associated with the level III NICUs.


METHODS
From June 2001 through September 2002, the participating hospitals reported all clusters of MRSA infection in their respective level III NICUs to the CDPH and the EDHHS.


RESULTS
Thirteen clusters of MRSA infection were detected in level III NICUs, and 149 MRSA-positive infants were reported. Infection control surveys showed that hospitals took different approaches for controlling MRSA colonization and infection in NICUs.


CONCLUSIONS
The CANMWG developed recommendations for the prevention and control of MRSA colonization and infection in the NICU and agreed that recommendations should expand to include future data generated by further studies. Continuing partnerships between hospital infection control personnel and public health professionals will be crucial in honing appropriate guidelines for effective approaches to the management and control of MRSA colonization and infection in NICUs.
Gerber
Susan I
SI
Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Gerber_Sue@cdph.org
Jones
Roderick C
RC
Scott
Mary V
MV
Price
Joel S
JS
Dworkin
Mark S
MS
Filippell
Mala B
MB
Rearick
Terri
T
Pur
Stacy L
SL
McAuley
James B
JB
Lavin
Mary Alice
MA
Welbel
Sharon F
SF
Garcia-Houchins
Sylvia
S
Bova
Judith L
JL
Weber
Stephen G
SG
Arnow
Paul M
PM
Englund
Janet A
JA
Gavin
Patrick J
PJ
Fisher
Adrienne G
AG
Thomson
Richard B
RB
Vescio
Thomas
T
Chou
Teresa
T
Johnson
Daniel C
DC
Fry
Mary Beth
MB
Molloy
Anne H
AH
Bardowski
Laura
L
Noskin
Gary A
GA
D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects