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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Europe: which infection control measures are taken?

  • Clinical and Epidemiological Study
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Abstract

Background

The prevalence of hospital-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections shows a huge variety across Europe. Some countries reported a reduction in MRSA frequency, while in others countries increasing MRSA rates have been observed. To reduce the spread of MRSA in the healthcare setting, a sufficient MRSA management is essential. In order to reflect the MRSA management across Europe, MRSA prevention policies were surveyed in ten countries.

Materials and methods

The survey was performed by questionnaires in European intensive care units (ICUs) and surgical departments (SDs) in 2004. Questionnaires asked for availability of bedside alcohol hand-disinfection, isolation precautions, decolonization and screening methods. The study was embedded in the Hospital in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance (HELICS) Project, a European collaboration of national surveillance networks. HELICS was initiated in order to harmonize the national surveillance activities in the individual countries. Therefore, HELICS participants developed surveillance modules for nosocomial infections in ICUs and for surgical site infections (SSI). The coordination of this surveillance has now been transferred to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Results

A total of 526 ICUs and 223 SDs from ten countries sent data on organisational characteristics and policies, demonstrating wide variations in care. Substantial variation existed in availability of bedside alcohol hand-disinfection, which was much higher in participating ICUs rather than in SDs (86 vs. 59%). Surveillance cultures of contact patients were obtained in approximately three-fourths of all SDs (72%) and ICUs (75%). Countries with decreasing MRSA proportions showed especially strict implementation of various prevention measures.

Conclusion

The data obtained regarding MRSA prevention measures should stimulate infection control professionals to pursue further initiatives. Particularly, the vigorous MRSA management in countries with decreasing MRSA proportions should encourage hospitals to implement preventive measures in order to reduce the spread of MRSA.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the participating ICUs and SDs for their invaluable contribution to the data collection.

Conflict of interest statement

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité–University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, 12203, Berlin, Germany

    S. Hansen, F. Schwab & P. Gastmeier

  2. Department of Preventive Medicina Madrid, Puerta de Hierro-Majadahonda University Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    A. Asensio

  3. Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium

    H. Carsauw

  4. Institute for Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland

    P. Heczko

  5. Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    I. Klavs

  6. Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    O. Lyytikäinen

  7. Department of Intensive Care, Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Palomar

  8. National Board of Health and Welfare, Communicable Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden

    I. Riesenfeld-Orn

  9. Université Lyon 1, Hospices Civils de Lyon, CCLIN Sud-Est, Saint Genis-Laval, France

    A. Savey

  10. Department of Hospital Epidemiology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary

    E. Szilagyi

  11. Institute of Hygiene, Vilnius, Lithuania

    R. Valinteliene

  12. Laboratoire d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France

    J. Fabry

Authors
  1. S. Hansen
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  2. F. Schwab
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  3. A. Asensio
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  4. H. Carsauw
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  5. P. Heczko
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  6. I. Klavs
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  7. O. Lyytikäinen
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  8. M. Palomar
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  9. I. Riesenfeld-Orn
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  10. A. Savey
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  11. E. Szilagyi
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  12. R. Valinteliene
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  13. J. Fabry
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  14. P. Gastmeier
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Hansen.

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Hansen, S., Schwab, F., Asensio, A. et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Europe: which infection control measures are taken?. Infection 38, 159–164 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-010-0001-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-010-0001-8

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