title: Increasing the efficiency of a targeted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening program.
abstract: An interdisciplinary team implemented a screening program targeting patients with a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), to reduce unnecessary contact isolation. After converting from a 2-step culture-based protocol to single polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, we increased the efficiency of the screening program from 77% to 100%. Despite the higher cost of PCR-based testing, this program remained cost-saving.
authors.affiliation: Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE. Electronic address: jgoldsack@christianacare.org.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Goldsack
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: DeRitter
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention Department, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Power
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention Department, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.affiliation: Value Institute, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
authors.forename: Marci L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Drees
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003691:Delaware / Q000453:epidemiology; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Cost; MRSA; Psychosocial; Surveillance