Contrary to the perception that cases of the "superbug" known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are increasing everywhere, a new report shows that MRSA infections associated with one type of procedure performed in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) declined by nearly half between 1997 and 2007. Experts believe the decline may be related to efforts to curb MRSA infections in healthcare settings, where these infections have become rampant.

The study, appearing in today’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), examined bloodstream infections that occurred in ICU patients who had an intravenous (IV) central line canula, a tube inserted into a blood vessel near the heart to deliver medicine or monitor vital signs. These tubes, sometimes hooked up for days, increase the risk of infection from all kinds of bacteria. The study did not examine MRSA infections related to peripheral IVs usually inserted into the arm or hand.

The researchers found that in the nearly 1,700 ICUs examined, there were 33,587 bloodstream infections associated with the central line procedure, of which 2,498 (7.4 percent) were MRSA and 1,590 (4.7 percent) were non-MRSA Staphylococcus aureus. While the proportion of Staphylococcus aureus infections caused by MRSA actually increased 25.8 percent from 1997 through 2007, the overall rate of MRSA infections associated with central lines declined 49.6 percent from 1997 through 2007, with the bulk of the decline occurring since 2001.

This indicates that MRSA infections are now responsible for a larger proportion of staph infections associated with central lines, but the total number of MRSA infections actually declined quite a bit.

The researchers believe that efforts taken by healthcare facilities to improve central line insertion and care practices and increasing success in preventing MRSA transmission between patients by healthcare facilities may be responsible for the declines. A comment published in JAMA alongside the study report notes that more can still be done to further reduce the number of MRSA infection in healthcare settings (sometimes referred to as healthcare-associated MRSA or HA-MRSA).

MRSA bacteria can't be treated with common antibiotics such as methicillin and MRSA bloodstream infections can caused serious complications, even death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 94,000 Americans get such serious, invasive MRSA infections each year and nearly 19,000 of those die.

While hospital-associated MRSA infections are still a problem, they are still very rare overall. In general, the more invasive the procedure you undergo is, the greater your risk of contracting a MRSA infection. To learn more about MRSA, join the Healia Health Community for MRSA Infections.

Related Blog Posts: Essential Facts about MRSA and Other Staph Infections
Prevention of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection

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