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Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The incidence of Methicillin-associated staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections continues to create a significant challenge for healthcare facilities worldwide. According to the CDC, MRSA now accounts for greater than 50% of hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections. Similar increases in VRE have been reported as well.

In an effort to create a nationwide commitment to the elimination of MRSA transmission, APIC has launched and continues to build a comprehensive program to aid its members in overcoming barriers to the elimination of this deadly organism.

Initiatives

• "Managing MRSA: A Call to Action"  Conference - held in Cambridge, MA, in August 2006, APIC, Joint Commission Resources and The Joint Commission brought together leading scientific and clinical experts on MRSA to address current challenges and examine best practices to combat this threat to the health and well-being of patients throughout the world. Click here to access the press release. The conference was just one component of an arsenal APIC put together in an attempt to fight this deadly disease.
• MRSA Prevalence Study – APIC launched a first-of-its-kind US study in 2006 to determine MRSA prevalence in US hospitals and establish a baseline for monitoring success in reducing its prevalence. Click here to access the press release. 
• "Legislative Mandates for Use of Active Surveillance Cultures to Screen for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Position Paper"  
  Position Statement
  Press Release
  Talking Points
• MRSA Webinar Series – On March 7, 2007 APIC concluded a series of six 1-hour Webinars on the elimination of MRSA transmission. This series will be available on CD in April, and complements the newly-released work of the APIC MRSA Task Force. 
• "Guide to the Elimination of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus", created by the MRSA Task Force and released on March 14, 2007, provides infection prevention and control professionals with a step-by-step approach to battle MRSA transmission. A range of approaches has been included to make the guide appropriate for any size or type of facility. The guide is now available in our bookstore. Available free to APIC members.  Click here to download (login required).
• Interactive State Map to track the progress of state and federal legislation related to the field of healthcare-associated infections, including mandatory reporting and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Click here to access interactive state map.