Posted: September 2nd, 2022

Multi-Drug Resistant Infections (MRSA)

In the state of Indiana, our multi-drug resistant infections (MDRI) started to rise in 2018. Our hospital has experienced the same rise, especially in MRSA patients. Prior to 2018, our MRSA rates were stable at 1.3% of all surgical patients. In 2021, our rates rose to 7.8% and so far in 2022 our rates are 11.8%.

We are required to count MRSA rates as any patient who had surgery in the past 60 days that was discharged from our facility, then returned with a MRSA positive infection. This can be MRSA at the site of surgery, in the bloodstream, or anywhere in the body that resulted in a positive culture.

Our surgical patients are required to shower the day of surgery with soap and water. Pre-operatively, we cleanse the site with a chlorhexidine swab prior to the surgical incision. The sterile field is maintained throughout surgery. Our surgical suites are designed with airflow that does not go move over the surgical site. We have noticed that none of the surgical cases that return with MRSA are in one surgical suite and are not associated with any one doctor or surgical team.

Post-operatively, a nurse is required to assess the wound daily and document the site and any draining in the EMR. The patient is given supplies upon discharge of two dressing changes and are taught how to clean the site. We have 100% compliance with handwashing post-op as witnessed by our quality department.

We need to know what are the best practices for reducing MRSA infections. We would also like to know what procedures need to be changed and how we can fix our problem.

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