Epidemiology of MRSA at the University of Geneva Hospitals

Methods An observational cohort study on MRSA trends was prospectively carried out from 1993 onwards. Infection control measures were initiated and intensified at various time points, including patient screening, surveillance, contact isolation, a computerized alert system and hospital-wide promotion campaign of hand hygiene. In 2003, the Vigigerm program was introduced, 2006 a second promotion campaign of hand hygiene took place. The MRSA burden had been recorded by indicators as the proportion of MRSA among S. aureus in blood cultures (expressed as percentage); validated on site surveillance data of MRSA infected or colonized patients expressed as incidence rates and MRSA incidence-density, expressed as acquired MRSA cases per 1000 hospital days.