title: Decreasing healthcare-associated infections (HAI) is an efficient method to decrease healthcare-associated Methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA) infections Antimicrobial resistance data from the German national nosocomial surveillance system KISS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By analysing the data of the intensive care unit (ICU) component of the German national nosocomial infection surveillance system (KISS) during the last ten years, we have observed a steady increase in the MRSA rates (proportions) from 2001 to 2005 and only a slight decrease from 2006 to 2010. The objective of this study was to investigate the development of the incidence density of nosocomial MRSA infections because this is the crucial outcome for patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 103 ICUs with ongoing participation during the observation period were included. The pooled incidence density of nosocomial MRSA infections decreased significantly from 0.37 per 1000 patient days in 2001 to 0.15 per 1000 patient days in 2010 (RR = 0.40; CI95 0.29-0.55). This decrease was proportional to the significant decrease of all HCAI during the same time period (RR = 0.61; CI95 0.58-0.65).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results underline the need to concentrate infection control activities on measures to control HCAI in general rather than focusing too much on specific MRSA prevention measures. MRSA rates (proportions) are not a very useful indicator of the situation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany. Petra.Gastmeier@charite.de.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gastmeier
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behnke
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geffers