title: Veterans Affairs methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prevention initiative associated with a sustained reduction in transmissions and health care-associated infections.
abstract: Implementation of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Prevention Initiative was associated with significant declines in MRSA transmission and MRSA health care-associated infection rates in Veterans Affairs acute care facilities nationwide in the 33-month period from October 2007 through June 2010. Here, we show continuing declines in MRSA transmissions (P = .004 for trend, Poisson regression) and MRSA health care-associated infections (P < .001) from July 2010 through June 2012. The Veterans Affairs Initiative was associated with these effects, sustained over 57 months, in a large national health care system.
authors.affiliation: VHA MRSA/MDRO Program Office, the National Infectious Diseases Service, Patient Care Services, VA Central Office and the Lexington VA Medical Center, Lexington, KY; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY. Electronic address: Martin.Evans@va.gov.
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kralovic
authors.forename: Loretta A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simbartl
authors.forename: Ron W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Freyberg
authors.forename: D Scott
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Obrosky
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Roselle
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
keywords: Infection prevention; MDRO; Methicillin-resistant organism; Veterans health care