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Endemic methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a special care baby unit: A 2 year review
Author(s) -
WEBSTER J.,
FAOAGALI J. L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1990.tb02417.x
Subject(s) - medicine , staphylococcus aureus , outbreak , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , staphylococcal infections , infection control , colonization , pediatrics , antibiotics , micrococcaceae , intensive care medicine , antibacterial agent , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , bacteria , genetics , biology
During January 1987, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated for the first time from a baby admitted to the special care baby unit of a large metropolitan hospital. Over a 2 year period, of 1574 babies admitted to the unit, at least 573 (36.4%) became colonized with the organism. Only nine (1.6%) developed significant infectious morbidity and one baby died. Minor infections occurred in a further 35 (6.1%). The outbreak remained uncontrolled despite rigid infection control measures. Subsequent emphasis on hand washing, in‐service education and provision of weekly review of the MRSA colonization rates have failed to eliminate the organism from the unit.