Patient to healthcare personnel transmission of MRSA in the non-intensive care unit setting

Gita Nadimpalli; Lyndsay M O'Hara; Lisa Pineles; Karly Lebherz; J Kristie Johnson; David P Calfee; Loren G Miller; Daniel J Morgan; Anthony D Harris

doi:10.1017/ice.2020.10

Patient to healthcare personnel transmission of MRSA in the non-intensive care unit setting

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 May;41(5):601-603. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.10. Epub 2020 Feb 10.

Authors

Gita Nadimpalli¹, Lyndsay M O'Hara¹, Lisa Pineles¹, Karly Lebherz², J Kristie Johnson^{1

3}, David P Calfee⁴, Loren G Miller⁵, Daniel J Morgan¹, Anthony D Harris¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
² Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
³ School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
⁴ Los Angeles Biomedical Research Center at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California.
⁵ Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California.

Abstract

The transmission rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to gloves or gowns of healthcare personnel (HCP) caring for MRSA patients in a non-intensive care unit setting was 5.4%. Contamination rates were higher among HCP performing direct patient care and when patients had detectable MRSA on their body. These findings may inform risk-based contact precautions.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Cross Infection
Gloves, Protective / microbiology*
Health Personnel
Humans
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
Personal Protective Equipment / microbiology
Prospective Studies
Staphylococcal Infections / transmission*
Surgical Attire / microbiology*

Grants and funding

R01 AI121146/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/United States