Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control at the National University Hospital, Singapore: a historical perspective.
BACKGROUND
The National University Hospital (NUH) was the first restructured public hospital in Singapore. As the most recently established hospital in Singapore, it has a unique record of alert organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).


METHODS
We performed a critical review of multiple data sources including surveillance reports, task force reports, published abstracts and manuscripts concerning MRSA in NUH.


RESULTS
Three themes emerged: 1) the MRSA rates have remained relatively stable through the life of the hospital despite the increased complexity of patients and intermittent intensified control efforts; 2) the major MRSA task forces were driven by surgeons and 3) a scientific approach to epidemiology has a critical role in understanding and planning interventions.


CONCLUSIONS
Although containment of MRSA can be accomplished to a certain degree through mobilisation of existing resources, higher goals such as eradication would require massive infusions of infrastructural, scientific and human resources to have a chance of success.
Tambyah
Paul A
PA
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore. mdcpat@nus.edu.sg
Kumarasinghe
Gamini
G
D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012846:Singapore; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*