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Veterans Affairs Initiative Helps Reduce MRSA Infections

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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology reported a decrease in  methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in health care facilities thanks to the efforts of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) prevention program.

The study, which was published in the January 2017 edition of the American Journal of Infection Control,  found MRSA cases for intensive care units dropped 87 percent between October 2007 and September 2015.

The study credits the declining infection rates to the VA’s use of MRSA prevention coordinators at each facility. Their efforts include taking precautions with infected patients and staff in addition to encouraging more hand hygiene and infection prevention methods throughout the facilities.