Central-Line-Associated MRSA Infections Declined by 50% in Hospital Intensive Care Units Over 10 Years, According to Study

The rate of intravenous tube-related methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospital intensive care units dropped by nearly 50% over 10 years, according to a recent CDC report published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Los Angeles Times reports. For the report, CDC researchers examined the rate of IV tube-related infections of MRSA in more than 1,600 ICUs from 1997 to 2007 (Engel, Los Angeles Times, 2/18). Researchers found that in 1997 there were an estimated 43 MRSA infections per 100,000 ICU patients who were hooked up to IV tubes for at least one day, compared with the 2007 rate of 21 MRSA infections per 100,000 ICU patients with the tubes. Researchers also found that rates of more treatable staph infections in ICUs declined during the 10-year study period. Researchers attributed the declines to increased prevention efforts -- frequent hand-washing, instrument sterilization and other measures -- by physicians and nurses.

Researchers also found that during the 10-year period, MRSA became a more common cause of the ICU infections examined than more easily treated staph infections. Nearly 2,500 MRSA infections were linked to IV tubes during the time period, accounting for nearly 8% of all bloodstream infections associated with the IV tubes. More treatable types of staph infections accounted for less than 5%. Lead author Deron Burton of CDC said despite the study's limitations, "We think that this is still a very important success story."

In an editorial that accompanied the report, Michael William Climo, an infectious disease specialist at a Hunter Holmes McQuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Va., wrote that the report shows substantial, but limited progress because MRSA became a more common cause of the ICU infections examined than more easily treated staph infections. In addition, the study only examined MRSA infections in ICUs, not in all hospital departments (AP/Chicago Sun-Times, 2/18).

The report is available online. The editorial also is available online.