JAMDA
Volume 10, Issue 6 , Pages 414-418, July 2009

Nursing Homes as Reservoirs of MRSA: Myth or Reality?

  • Michele Garazi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Geriatrics, Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence to Michele Garazi, MD, Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
    • ,
  • Barbara Edwards, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Infectious Diseases, Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
    • ,
  • Donna Caccavale, RN

      Affiliations

    • Parker Jewish Institute for Healthcare and Rehabilitation, New Hyde Park, NY
    • ,
  • Charles Auerbach, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, New York, NY
    • ,
  • Gisele Wolf-Klein, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Geriatrics, Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY

published online 01 June 2009.

Objective

To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization among residents of a long-term care facility (LTCF) and to investigate the association of prior antibiotics use and MRSA colonization.

Design

Cross-sectional analysis.

Setting

A large, 320-bed suburban long-term care facility in New York.

Participants

A representative sample of 160 nursing home residents.

Measurements

We obtained nasal swabs to screen for MRSA colonization and reviewed the medical charts for clinical and demographic data.

Results

A total of 160 residents participated. MRSA colonization was identified in 44 residents (27.5 %). Only 5 variables were statistically significantly associated with MRSA colonization, namely race, renal insufficiency, increased use of antibiotics, prior MRSA infection during the previous year, and prior hospitalization within 3 years. Sharing a room with a MRSA carrier did not increase the risk for colonization.

Conclusion

This study found a large reservoir of MRSA within this LTCF population. Nursing home residents with renal insufficiency, prior MRSA infection, prior hospitalization, and higher use of antibiotics were found to be at risk for MRSA colonization . These findings demonstrate that LTCFs need to be proactive in implementing appropriate antibiotics restriction practices and should give high priority to the development of more effective infection control policies.

Keywords: Long-term care facilities, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, colonization, antibiotics, infection control

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 Part of the data in this study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, Chicago, May 2006.

 There was no sponsor for this study. All authors state no conflicts of interest.

PII: S1525-8610(09)00092-9

doi:10.1016/j.jamda.2009.02.014

JAMDA
Volume 10, Issue 6 , Pages 414-418, July 2009

Article Tools