Rounds Led by Infection Control Nurses Can Help Address MRSA Infections

Garvey, et al. (2019) report on a study examining the value of an infection prevention and control nurse leading rounds on wards to help combat methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The study was conducted at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) a UK tertiary referral hospital. At QEHB, innovative nurse-led daily ward rounds for patients that acquire hospital acquired MRSA during their hospital stay were undertaken. The aim was to optimize care delivered for these patients while at QEHB, thereby reducing the risk of infection in patients with healthcare-acquired MRSA. 

A segmented Poisson regression model suggests that the MRSA bacteremia rate was affected where an 88.94 percent reduction (p = 0.0561) in bacteremias was seen by the introduction of these ward rounds. The researchers describe a nurse-led MRSA ward round which was associated with a lower rate of MRSA bacteremias.