engleski

The Influence of PFGE Typing Results on the Interruption of MRSA Outbreak in a Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgery in Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb has 22 beds and about 700 patients per year. From May to August 2001 there was an outbreak (total 17 patients) caused by MRSA. All patients had only wound infection. Eight patients appeared in May, and all MRSA approproate measures (including cohort isolation) were implemented. Staff screening revealed only one surgeon to be a nasal carrier. One new patient appeared in June, another new patient in July and 7 more patients were infected in August. All appropriate mesures were taken, including several staff meetings with infection control doctor and nurse.Nevertheless, 7 new patients were infected in the period from September till the end of November.Then PFGE typing was performed on the strains of first 17 patients. The same pulsotype was found in 14 patients, second pulsotype was found in two patients, and 1 patient has his own (third) pulsotype. These results were shown and discussed throughly at the staff meeting on December 12th.It was decided that every patient would be screenedfor MRSA in the next six months. As a result, from December 15, 2001 to April 20, 2002, we identified 5 new MRSA patients: 4 patients were transmitted from other hospitals or other wards of our hospital, and the fifth patient was one previously hospitalised in the ward in September 2001, but was not infected and not identified at that time. We therefore conclude taht the figure of the same genotype in 14 patients in relatively shord period in this ward was crucial to persuade personnel to seriolsly take MRSA prevention.

MRSA; PFGE; Vascular surgery

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