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NHSN Annual Update:
Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Associated With Healthcare-Associated Infections

Annual Summary of Data Reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006–2007

Antimicrobial-resistant pathogens that cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose an ongoing and increasing challenge to hospitals, both in the clinical treatment of patients and in the prevention of the cross-transmission of these problematic pathogens.  Describing the magnitude of the problem with respect to these antimicrobial-resistant pathogens is challenging, because the levels of antimicrobial resistance vary for different types of healthcare facilities and for different geographic areas, and some resistance phenotypes are difficult for laboratories to detect. However, the findings from such attempts may help the infection control and public health communities target problems and utilize resources more efficiently.

In the News

Featured in The Times
"Ireland 'losing war' on superbug" February 15, 2009
Challenges of Implementing National Guidelines for the Control and Prevention of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization or Infection in Acute Care Hospitals in the Republic of Ireland
Fidelma Fitzpatrick, MD; Fiona Roche, PhD; Robert Cunney, MB; Hilary Humphreys, MD; Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland Infection Control Subcommittee
The research, published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, found one third of hospitals did not have a written policy on antibiotic use, and only 35% had an antibiotic stewardship programme.

July 2007

Volume 28, Number 7
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007;28:877–879
© 2007 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved.
0899-823X/2007/2807-0018$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/518461
Concise Communication

Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection and Colonization Among Hospitalized Prisoners

Marc‐Oliver Wright, MS;

Jon P. Furuno, PhD;

Richard A. Venezia, PhD;

Jennifer K. Johnson, PhD;

Harold C. Standiford, MD;

Joan N. Hebden, RN, MS;

Judith Hill, RN;

David M. Hartley, PhD;

Anthony D. Harris, MD, MPH;

Eli N. Perencevich, MD, MS

From Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, Illinois (M.‐.O.W.); the Departments of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (J.P.F., D.M.H., A.D.H., E.N.P.), Pathology (R.A.V., J.K.J.), and Medicine (H.C.S.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, the University of Maryland Medical Center (H.C.S., J.N.H., J.H.), and the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (A.D.H., E.N.P.), Baltimore, Maryland.

We assessed methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and colonization in hospitalized prisoners. Of 434 admission surveillance cultures, 58 (13%) were positive for MRSA. The sensitivity of admission surveillance cultures of samples from the anterior nares was 72% and increased to 84% when the calculation included cultures of wound samples. Hospitalized prisoners are at high risk for MRSA infection and colonization, and surveillance should include cultures of nares and wound samples.

Received July 26, 2006; accepted November 28, 2006; electronically published May 25, 2007.

Address reprint requests to Marc‐Oliver Wright, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Department of Infection Control, 2650 Ridge, Burch 124, Evanston, IL 60201 ().

  • Presented in part: 44th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy; Washington DC; November 2004 (Abstract K‐1856).

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