Prevalence of Colonization and Infection with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus and of Clostridium difficile Infection in Canadian Hospitals

• Published in: Infection control and hospital epidemiology 2013-07, Vol.34 (7), p.687-693
• Main Authors: Simor, Andrew E., Williams, Victoria, McGeer, Allison, Raboud, Janet, Larios, Oscar, Weiss, Karl, Hirji, Zahir, Laing, Felicia, Moore, Christine, Gravel, Denise
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the digestive system and abdomen; Biological and medical sciences; Canada - epidemiology; Clostridium difficile; Clostridium difficile - drug effects; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Enterococcus; Enterococcus - drug effects; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - drug therapy; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - epidemiology; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous - microbiology; Female; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - drug therapy; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - epidemiology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Health care industry; Hospital admissions; Hospital beds; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus; Miscellaneous; Nursing; Original Article; Prevalence; Psychiatric hospitals; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Teaching hospitals; Vancomycin Resistance
• ISSN: 0899-823X; 1559-6834
• DOI: 10.1086/670998

Objective. To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Canadian hospitals. Design. National point prevalence survey in November 2010. Setting. Canadian acute care hospitals with at least 50 beds. Patients. Adult inpatients colonized or infected with MRSA or VRE or with CDI. Methods. The prevalence (per 100 inpatients) of MRSA, VRE, and CDI was determined. Associations between prevalence and institutional characteristics and infection control policies were evaluated. Results. One hundred seventy-six hospitals (65% of those eligible) participated. The median (range) prevalence rates for MRSA and VRE colonization or infection and CDI were 4.2% (0%–22.1%), 0.5% (0%–13.1%), and 0.9% (0%–8.6%), respectively. Median MRSA and VRE infection rates were low (0.3% and 0%, respectively). MRSA, VRE, and CDI were thought to have been healthcare associated in 79%, 96%, and 84% of cases, respectively. In multivariable analysis, routine use of a private room for colonized/infected patients was associated with lower median MRSA infection rate (prevalence ratio [PR], 0.44 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22–0.88]) and VRE prevalence (PR, 0.26 [95% CI, 0.12–0.57]). Lower VRE rates were also associated with enhanced environmental cleaning (PR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.36–0.75]). Higher bed occupancy rates were associated with higher rates of CDI (PR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01–1.03]). Conclusions. These data provide the first national prevalence estimates for MRSA, VRE, and CDI in Canadian hospitals. Certain infection prevention and control policies were found to be associated with prevalence and deserve further investigation.