From 2005 to 2011, the national rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections acquired in both healthcare and community settings have declined, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
In 2011, there were 80,461 invasive MRSA infections nationally. Of these infections, 48,353 were healthcare-associated community-onset — cultured within three days of hospital admission or within two days of a patient receiving a central venous catheter. Approximately 14,000 were hospital-onset infections, cultured more than three days after admission.
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Researchers determined HACO infections decreased by 27.7 percent between 2005 and 2011, and hospital-onset infections decreased by 54.2 percent in the same time frame.
Researchers estimated there were 30,800 fewer MRSA infections in 2011 than in 2005. They suggest further strategies for decreasing infection outside of acute care settings will have the greatest impact on reducing MRSA incidences nationwide.
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