Completely eliminating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections from nursing homes — where residents are commonly colonized with bacteria — is unrealistic, according to a recent study published in the journal Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control.
Using simulated mathematical models and data on MRSA levels collected from six Wisconsin nursing homes over the course of one year, researchers were able to better understand the dynamics of MRSA-spread in long-term care settings. The models predicted MRSA would persist in Wisconsin nursing homes, though certain tactics could reduce the likelihood of large-scale outbreaks.
"Based on our model, MRSA elimination from nursing homes, while theoretically possible, was unlikely to be achieved in practice," concluded the authors. "Decolonization therapy that can sustain higher clearance rates or lower MRSA-positive introductions over years may reduce strain-specific prevalence of MRSA in the facilities, and antibiotic stewardship may contribute to this effort. Large-scale MRSA outbreaks were unlikely in this setting."
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