Inclusion of 30-day post-discharge MRSA rates significantly changes rates of hospital-onset MRSA, which can alter hospital rankings, according to research published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
For their study, researchers relied on diagnostic codes to identify patients who either had present-on-admission MRSA, pre-discharge MRSA or post-discharge MRSA. The patient population was derived from 27 acute-care hospitals in Orange County, Calif., from 2002-2007. Using those diagnostic codes, the researchers then assessed the impact of including post-discharge MRSA rates in calculating total hospital-onset MRSA incidence and hospital rankings.
Their analysis showed patients with short hospital stays were more likely to experience post-discharge MRSA. In addition, they found that including post-discharge MRSA rates tripled the median hospital-onset MRSA incidence rate, from 12.2 to 35.7 cases per 10,000 at-risk admissions. Consequently, hospital rankings were affected significantly.
For their study, researchers relied on diagnostic codes to identify patients who either had present-on-admission MRSA, pre-discharge MRSA or post-discharge MRSA. The patient population was derived from 27 acute-care hospitals in Orange County, Calif., from 2002-2007. Using those diagnostic codes, the researchers then assessed the impact of including post-discharge MRSA rates in calculating total hospital-onset MRSA incidence and hospital rankings.
Their analysis showed patients with short hospital stays were more likely to experience post-discharge MRSA. In addition, they found that including post-discharge MRSA rates tripled the median hospital-onset MRSA incidence rate, from 12.2 to 35.7 cases per 10,000 at-risk admissions. Consequently, hospital rankings were affected significantly.
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