title: Reduction in incidence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in an intensive care unit: role of treatment with mupirocin ointment and chlorhexidine baths for nasal carriers of MRSA.
abstract: After the introduction of routine treatment for every nasal carrier of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, active follow-up surveillance for nosocomial methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection was conducted for 5 years in an intensive care unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital. There was a significant decrease in the incidence of nosocomial methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection during the later years of follow-up. Decolonization of nasal carriers of methicillin-resistant S. aureus is probably associated with such findings.
authors.affiliation: Infection Control Department, Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, 6690 Ipiranga Avenue, Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sandri
authors.forename: Micheline Gisele
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dalarosa
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruschel de Alcantara
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: da Silva Elias
authors.forename: Alexandre Prehn
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zavascki
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D009824:Ointments; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D009824:Ointments; D016712:Mupirocin; D002710:Chlorhexidine