Outbreaks of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on neonatal and burns units of a new hospital

Epidemiol Infect. 1990 Oct;105(2):215-28. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800047828.

Abstract

Multiple introductions of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains occurred to a new hospital in Hong Kong. Two years of clinical microbiological surveillance of the resulting outbreaks was combined with laboratory investigation by phage and antibiogram typing, and plasmid profiling. The outbreaks on the special care baby (SCBU) and burns (BU) units were studied in detail, and colonization of staff and contamination of the environment were investigated. MRSA were spread by the hands of staff on the SCBU, where long-term colonization of dermatitis was important, but were probably transmitted on the BU by a combination of the airborne, transient hand-borne and environmental routes. Simple control measures to restrict hand-borne spread on the SCBU were highly effective, but control was not successful on the BU.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Burn Units
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks* / prevention & control
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*