Modifying the risk: once-a-day bathing "at risk" patients in the intensive care unit with chlorhexidine gluconate.
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) decreases hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that can cause colonization and infection. A standard approach is the bathing of all patients with CHG to prevent MRSA transmission. To decrease CHG utilization, this study assessed selective daily administration of CHG bathing to intensive care unit patients who had an MRSA-positive result or a central venous catheter. This risk-based approach was associated with a 72% decrease in hospital-acquired MRSA transmission rate.
Infection Prevention, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Lake Success, NY. Electronic address: darmelli@nshs.edu.
Donna
D
Armellino
Infection Prevention and Nursing, Glen Cove Hospital, Glen Cove, NY.
Jeanine
J
Woltmann
Infection Prevention and Nursing, Glen Cove Hospital, Glen Cove, NY.
Darlene
D
Parmentier
Infection Prevention, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Lake Success, NY.
Nancy
N
Musa
Krasnoff Quality Management Institute, Lake Success, NY.
Ann
A
Eichorn
Division of Infectious Disease, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY.
Robert
R
Silverman
Division of Infectious Disease, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY.
David
D
Hirschwerk
Division of Infectious Disease, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY.
Bruce
B
Farber
D001494:Baths / Q000379:methods*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004202:Disinfectants; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine; Intensive care unit; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Prevention; Transmission