title: Management of outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the neonatal intensive care unit: a consensus statement.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Gerber_Sue@cdph.org
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Roderick C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Mary V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dworkin
authors.forename: Mala B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Filippell
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rearick
authors.forename: Stacy L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pur
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.forename: Mary Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lavin
authors.forename: Sharon F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Welbel
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia-Houchins
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bova
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Arnow
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Englund
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.forename: Adrienne G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vescio
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Molloy
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bardowski
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Noskin
mesh_terms: 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