Wednesday, March 14, 2007
For the Attention of
Hospital CEOs, OHA Board of Directors,
and Infection Control Practitioners
Greg Shaw
Vice President, Strategic Human Resources Management
Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control of Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci in all Health Care Settings
The Provincial Infectious Disease Advisory Committee (PIDAC) has recently developed a best practices document for Ontario entitled "Best Practices for Infection Prevention and Control of Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci”. This document deals with the prevention and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in health care settings across the continuum of care; and can be found on the following webpage:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/providers/program/infectious/diseases/ic_staff.html
This document provides information on infection prevention and control practices to:
- Decrease the risk of acquisition and transmission of MRSA and VRE to clients/patients/residents and health care providers;
- Assist staff in managing clients/patients/residents colonized or infected with MRSA and VRE within health care settings and as they move from one health care setting to another;
- Assist the health care system in assessing and containing new antibiotic resistant organisms
Hospitals are encouraged to read the document and apply the strategies outlined within it.
The OHA will host a videoconference entitled, “PIDAC Best Pactices for the Management of Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus”, on Tuesday April 10, 2007 from 10AM to 12PM (EST) (see attached brochure). The authors of the PIDAC Best Practices document will be on-hand to provide an overview of their recommendations, discuss the rationale, and answer questions.
If you have any questions about this Bulletin, please contact Karen Sequeira, Consultant, Patient Safety and Clinical Best Practice at 416-205-1328 (email: ksequeira@oha.com).