Impact of rapid molecular screening at hospital admission on nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: cluster randomised trial.
METHODS
Cluster randomised crossover trial with seven wards randomly allocated to intervention or control arm.


METHODS
Medical and surgical wards of a university hospital with active MRSA control programme.


METHODS
All patients hospitalized >48 h in study wards and screened for MRSA on admission and discharge Intervention: Rapid PCR-based screening test for MRSA compared with control screening test by enrichment culture using chromogenic agar.


OBJECTIVE
We determined the benefit of PCR-detection versus culture-based detection of MRSA colonisation upon patient admission on early implementation of isolation precautions and reduction of hospital transmission of MRSA.


RESULTS
Cumulative rate of MRSA hospital acquisition of in patients screened negative on admission.


METHODS
The sequential order of inclusion of study wards in each arm was randomised by assigning a number to each ward and using a computer generated list of random numbers.


RESULTS
Of 3704 eligible patients, 67.8% were evaluable for the study. Compared with culture, PCR-screening reduced the median test reporting time from admission from 88 to 11 hours (p<0.001) and the median time from admission to isolation from 96 to 25 hours (p<0.001). MRSA acquisition was detected in 36 patients (3.2%) in the control arm and 34 (3.2%) in the intervention arm. The incidence density rate of hospital acquired MRSA was 2.82 and 2.57/1,000 exposed patient-days in the control and intervention arm, respectively (risk ratio 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.60-1.39). Poisson regression model adjusted for colonisation pressure, compliance with hand hygiene and antibiotic use indicated a RR 0.99 (95% CI, 0.69 to 1.44).


CONCLUSIONS
Universal PCR screening for MRSA on admission to medical and surgical wards in an endemic setting shortened the time to implement isolation precautions but did not reduce nosocomial acquisition of MRSA.


BACKGROUND
clinicaltrials.gov NCT00846105.
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Infection Control, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Sandrine
S
Roisin
Infection Control, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Christine
C
Laurent
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Olivier
O
Denis
School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Michèle
M
Dramaix
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Claire
C
Nonhoff
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Marie
M
Hallin
Infection Control, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Baudouin
B
Byl
Departments of Clinical Microbiology, Erasme Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Marc J
MJ
Struelens
D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*; D010343:Patient Admission; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*