Multi-drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) have important infection control implications, with the severity and extent of disease varying by patient population. Patients with an MDRO infection will have limited available antimicrobial therapy, and an increased length of stay and cost. Studies also indicate that patients with an MDRO infection have an increased rate of mortality.
Prevention and control of MDROs is a national priority with one strategy being to continue Contact Precautions for patients infected, colonized or with a history of an MDRO.
On Aug. 1, Infection Prevention began flagging the medical record of any patient with a culture positive for a MDRO. MDRO includes Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), Extended-Spectrum-Lactamase Producers (ESBL), Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and other select gram negative bacilli such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter.
Once the medical record is flagged, any readmissions for this patient will result in a STAR Staff Alert. Admissions will notify the receiving department of the patient’s MDRO history, and the patient will be placed in Contact Precautions.
In order to remove the flag and/or discontinue Contact Precautions, one of two criteria must be met:
1. The patient has gone for one year without a culture or screen positive for the MDRO.
2. Screen and/or culture negative based on type MDRO (see MDRO Protocol).
Once this criterion has been met, Infection Prevention will remove the flag from the patient’s medical record.
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