Provincial MRSA Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines and Standards (2008)

Provincial MRSA Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines and Standards (2008) Bernice Heinrichs, MN, CIC Project Manager, IPC

Presentation outline • MRSA Guidelines and Standards overview • Specific Recommendations MRSA Guidelines and Standards across the care continuum • MRSA surveillance and reporting in Alberta

MRSA Skin Infections Photograph courtesy of Dr. Mark Joffe, CHICA Conference 2007

MRSA Skin Infections Photographs courtesy of Dr. Mark Joffe, CHICA Conference 2007

Background • MRSA infections can cause worse clinical outcomes than MSSA infections • CNISP reported increased rate of MRSA in Canadian hospitals from 0.46 to 5.90 per 1000 admissions 1995-2004 • Health care costs of MRSA in Canada estimated at $82 million in 2004 • Patients with MRSA require prolonged hospitalization (average 26 days) Goetghebeur M, Landry PA, Han D, Vicente C. (2007). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A public health issue with economic consequences. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. Vol. 18. No 1. January/February

Provincial MRSA IPC Guidelines • The purpose of the guidelines is to define IPC best practices to reduce the transmission of MRSA and to outline the management of patients infected or colonized with MRSA across healthcare and community settings • Patients should not be denied access to service because of colonization or infection with MRSA

Development of Provincial MRSA IPC Guidelines • Identified as a priority for managing antimicrobial resistance • An MRSA Working Group was appointed by the Deputy Provincial Health Officer in April 2005 • The Working Group included representatives from urban and rural facilities, long term care, public health, acute care, community and emergency care

MRSA IPC Guidelines • Provide guidance to reduce the transmission of MRSA • Available on AHW website http://www.health.gov.ab.ca/resources/publications/IPC_MRSA-Guidelines-Aug07.pdf • Appendices include one page information sheets for transport personnel, specimen collection, outbreak checklist and education pamphlets for client/visitor/family, patient information, hospital facility staff, and community

MRSA Standards • One of four provincial standards released in January 2008 • Based directly on the Provincial MRSA IPC Guidelines • Specify requirements for preventing the spread of MRSA in all health care facilities and settings and managing outbreaks when they occur • Clarify the role of the regional MOH in managing outbreaks of MRSA

MRSA Standards • Minister Dave Hancock directed Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) to implement the standards February 1, 2008 • Monitoring for compliance will occur

MRSA Standards – what do they mean in practice? • Health Canada’s Routine Practices are the foundation for the MRSA guidelines and standards • In acute care, contact precautions should be used in addition to Routine Practices for MRSA positive patients • For all other settings, the utilization of personal protective equipment should be based on risk assessment for transmission

Brief Review of Provincial MRSA IPC Guideline Sections • Definitions • Assessment of Risk • Decreasing MRSA Transmission • Medical Transport • Surveillance • Screening • Outbreaks • Decolonization • Education • Occupational Health and Safety

Risk of Transmission (Adapted from Health Canada, Routine Practices and Additional Precautions for Preventing the Transmission of Infection in Health Care, 1999)

Risk of Transmission continued

MRSA Standards • Patients with a history of hospitalization or of being institutionalized (e.g. mental health, LTC, corrections) for 24-48 hours or more, within the past 6 months should routinely be screened on admission to an acute care facility • Purpose is to identify patients who are colonized or infected with MRSA, place MRSA positive patients into contact precautions and reduce risk of MRSA transmission

MRSA surveillance in Alberta • Outbreak investigation of community associated MRSA (CA MRSA) June 2005-Feb 2006 • Lab surveillance ongoing - the 1st clinical MRSA isolate for each patient is submitted to the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health for Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) testing

MRSA Outbreak reporting • Any person who knows or has reason to suspect the existence of MRSA: • In epidemic form; • Occurring at an unusually high rate; or • That is caused by a nuisance or other threat to public health, • Shall immediately notify the regional MOH by the fastest means possible

AHW reporting of MRSA • MRSA data is reported to regions electronically from the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health • Monthly MRSA data is included in a AHW Notifiable Disease Summary and distributed to provincial IPC contacts throughout the province • A more comprehensive provincial MRSA surveillance plan is being developed

Strain specific rates (per 100,000), by Health Region for MRSA in Alberta (Jan 1, 2006 -Dec 31, 2007)

Strain specific rates (per 100,000), by Month for MRSA in Alberta (Jan 1, 2006 -Dec 31, 2007)

Summary • Provincial MRSA guidelines and standards outline requirements for preventing the spread of MRSA in all health care settings and clarify the role of the regional MOH in managing outbreaks • MRSA is a growing problem in health care settings • Specific protocols are required to stop the spread of infection from patient to patient

Provincial MRSA Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Guidelines and Standards (2008)