The Present State of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hospitals

MRSA in Hospitals is under constant surveillance. Together, the Infection Control staff, Pharmacy and the Microbiology Laboratory monitor the incidence of MRSA infections on a monthly basis looking for cluster infections, reservoirs and other signs of potential problems. This monitoring is particularly important to prevent the unnecessary spread of methicillin and other multiply resistant organisms. One way MRSA is spreads in hospitals is by person-to-person contact. This underscores the importance of hand washing as healthcare staff moves from room to room and from patient-to-patient. The news reports focus primarily on this method of transmission. What is not often conveyed in news reports is that MRSA can also be transmitted through contaminated equipment. These transmission agents are called fomites (any inanimate object or substance capable of carrying infectious organisms). A contaminated environment can also be responsible for MRSA transmission.

The Future of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hospitals

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections will result in additional budgetary pressures on health care facilities. Hospitals have struggled with cost containment and reimbursement issues. Although hospital acquired MRSA has impacted the hospital budget, now they will also be worrying about the budgetary impact of these new community acquired MRSA infections and taking steps to protect themselves from these outbreaks. The reason for these worries is simple and quite concerning: Medicare plans to stop paying for hospital the patient days resulting from hospital acquired MRSA infections. As the cost associated with hospital acquired MRSA can be quite high, the promise of nonpayment for these extended stays will force the hospital to protect themselves from this additional reimbursement challenge. Patients entering a hospital for any procedure can expect to be cultured (swabbed) upon admission to check their MRSA infection state. This procedures will allow hospitals to not only isolate these patients to contain the organism, but also document the patient infection state so they can assure payment for procedures rendered.

What Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Hospitals Means for the Patient

Patients vigilantly watch handwashing procedures as they are approached by hospital staff. Perhaps it would be wise to have your own MRSA status documented before entering a hospital to make sure you are not liable for the bills that may not be covered.

For more information on hospital acquired infections visit our web site. Thank you Martin R Meyer For more information on MRSA and how to combat it check out MRSA