Abstract
MRSA is associated with high carrier rates in NICU, and presents a significant problem as a nosocomial infection. Our hospital has promoted infection prevention measures such as enforcement of hand washing using running water and soap or disinfectant in addition to the use of hand disinfectants, but no reductions in MRSA carrier rate were observed. Therefore, a new infection control measure was introduced involving one hand wash per procedure (hand disinfection) by medical personnel in addition to the use of gloves. Maintenance of infection prevention behavior among medical personnel resulted in decreases in new MRSA carrier infections among infants admitted to the NICU from a mean of 8.8% during the year preceding the new measure (August 2000 to July 2001) to 0% during the first year of the new measure (August 2001 to July 2002), and to 2.1% during the first five years (August 2001 to July 2006). These findings suggest that one hand wash per procedure (hand disinfection) and the use of gloves provides an effective measure for preventing MRSA transmission in the NICU.
