Assessing the Potential Impact of a Long-Acting Skin Disinfectant in the Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Transmission

Christopher T. Short, Matthew S. Mietchen and Eric T. Lofgren
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Christopher T. Short: Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Matthew S. Mietchen: Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
Eric T. Lofgren: Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-8

Abstract: Healthcare-associated transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a persistent problem. The use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) as a means of decolonizing patients, either through targeted decolonization or daily bathing, is frequently used to supplement other interventions. We explore the potential of a long-acting disinfectant with a persistent effect, immediate decolonizing action in the prevention of MRSA acquisition, and clinical illness and mortality in an 18-bed intensive care unit, based on a previous model. A scenario with no intervention is compared to CHG bathing, which decolonizes patients but provides no additional protection, and a hypothetical treatment that both decolonizes them and provides protection from subsequent colonization. The duration and effectiveness of this protection is varied to fully explore the potential utility of such a treatment. Increasing the effectiveness of the decolonizing agent reduces colonization, with a 10% increase resulting in a colonization rate ratio (RR) of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.89,0.90). Increasing the duration of protection results in a much more modest reduction, with a 12-hour increase in protection resulting in an RR of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.99, 0.99). There is little evidence of synergy between the two.

Keywords: MRSA; decolonization; hospital epidemiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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