News-Letter

The study found that screening children for MRSA and VRE upon entry to the PICU led to discovery of a much higher prevalence of these bacteria than previously known. Without screening, MRSA levels were underestimated by 52 percent and VRE levels were underestimated by 79 percent.

"We did show that screening patients increased the number of days patients harboring MRSA or VRE were appropriately isolated. Isolation can reduce transmission, but also may have negative consequences," Milstone said.

The study did not report a statistically significant difference in MDRO infections during the intervention compared to the period before the screening was implemented.

Undeterred, Milstone pointed out that that's not what he and his colleagues were after.

"The number of infections we have in our unit is very low. It would be nearly impossible to show a significant reduction in the number of infections in such a short period of time. But remember, hypothetically, decreasing the number of infections from two to one may not be statistically significant, but it can make a real difference in the care of that one child," Milstone said.

Milstone and his team are continuing their research. "We are leading a multi-center clinical trial to determine whether bathing children in the PICU daily with an antiseptic can reduce transmission of MRSA and VRE and reduce infections, we are determining the number of patients colonized with MRSA or VRE at the time of admission to the PICU, we are looking at the risk of infection in patients colonized with MRSA or VRE, and we are monitoring MDRO transmission and infection rates over time."

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