Hospital methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus active surveillance practices in Los Angeles County: Implications of legislation-based infection control, 2008

Ashley Peterson; Patricia Marquez; Dawn Terashita; Lauren Burwell; Laurene Mascola

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2010.01.007

Hospital methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus active surveillance practices in Los Angeles County: Implications of legislation-based infection control, 2008

Am J Infect Control. 2010 Oct;38(8):653-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.01.007. Epub 2010 May 14.

Authors

Ashley Peterson¹, Patricia Marquez, Dawn Terashita, Lauren Burwell, Laurene Mascola

Affiliation

¹ Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 20471715
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2010.01.007

Abstract

Pending California legislation prompted an on-line survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) active surveillance practices administered to infection preventionists of all 102 acute care licensed hospitals in Los Angeles County. We describe reported surveillance methods. Ninety-six hospitals responded with 41% performing MRSA active surveillance. Comments indicated resistance to implementation of active surveillance because its benefits remain controversial.

MeSH terms

California / epidemiology
Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / prevention & control*
Data Collection
Hospitals
Infection Control / legislation & jurisprudence*
Infection Control / methods
Legislation, Hospital
Los Angeles / epidemiology
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Population Surveillance / methods
Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control*
Surveys and Questionnaires