Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: Importance of high vancomycin minumum inhibitory concentrations

Table 3 Infection control recommendations for patients colonized or infected by drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations¹）

Spread prevention

Isolate patient in a private room

Facilitate gowns and gloves to enter the room

Facilitate mask protection

If risk of aerosol spread consider mask use

Practice hand hygiene with an antibacterial agent (preferably chlorhexidine-based soaps or solutions)

Avoid sharing equipment among patients

Continue isolation until results of tests of nares and infected sites are negative 3 times over 3 wk (including hospital readmission)

Minimize number of staff caring for patient

Educate staff about appropriate precautions and assess compliance

Infection control in nosocomial spread and evaluation

Perform baseline and weekly cultures of hands and nares of healthcare workers in charge of index patient

Consider baseline and weekly cultures for other healthcare workers and persons with extensive contact

Decolonize index patient and healthcare workers with topical mupirocine

Consider avoiding direct patient-contact of colonized healthcare workers until negative culture

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthcare-associated Infections recommendations and guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/HAI/prevent/prevent_pubs.html).