Improving infection control in nursing homes: Enhanced barrier precautions and multidrug-resistant organism colonization.
Mary-Claire Roghmann, Lyndsay M O'Hara, Stephanie Mayoryk et al.
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In 30 seconds
This multicenter clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness of enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) in identifying multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) colonization among 580 short-stay nursing home residents. The study found that only 21% of residents were culture-positive for MDROs, despite 31% having EBP indications. Notably, MDRO history was a poor predictor of current colonization status.
Key findings
- 21% of residents were culture-positive for MDROs.
- 31% of residents had one or more EBP indications.
- Only 25% of residents with MDRO history were culture-positive.
- Novel or targeted MDROs were rare among the population.
Why it matters
Understanding the prevalence and identification of MDRO colonization in nursing homes is crucial for infection control. This study highlights the limitations of relying solely on MDRO history for implementing enhanced precautions, which may impact patient safety and resource allocation.