versus 21percent for CRE; some MRSA surveillance may be driven by state legislative mandate as indicated by a handful of respondents. Facilities that performed AS were more likely to do so on admission to specific units( 54 percent) versus all admissions( 13 percent), at intervals throughout admission( 13 percent), or on discharge from a specific unit( 9 percent). Only 4 percent of respondents reported performing AS for any MDRO on facility discharge. MRSA surveillance predominated in the intensive care unit( 34 percent).
The authors reported that most surveillance testing was processed on-site, and most reported turnaround times of less than 24 hours; the rest reported less than one week to result. Polymerase chain reaction( PCR) was the most common mode of surveillance testing, compared to culture, but this varied by MDRO.
Clearance practices
When asked whether their facility has a protocol for discontinuing CP for patients with a history of any of the targeted MDRO, 96 percent indicated that they had a clearance protocol for at least one MDRO. The pathogens for which facilities had clearance protocols were most commonly MRSA( 97 percent), C. difficile( 95 percent), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci( 82 percent). Only 20 percent of facilities reported having a protocol to clear CP for CRE. Protocols were categorized as time-based and / or microbiology-based but were not mutually exclusive. For all MDRO, time was a more frequent component of the clearance protocol than microbiologic results. However, time to clearance varied widely from“ end on discharge” to“ more than a year” across all organisms. Among facilities employing a microbiology-based clearance protocol, there was variation in the number of specimens required ranging from one to three for most MDROs.
The authors note that there are some limitations to this survey, including a small sample size which limits generalizability. Additionally, most respondents were from large facilities located in cities, despite attempts by survey organizers to engage more rural participants. Academic hospitals were also over-represented as evidenced by the large majority of respondents who identified as non-government, not-for-profit, and teaching institutions, according to the authors..
Addressing the variation of practice, the authors say more data on transmission risk by disease state, organism, and time are needed:“ Evidence-based strategies that allow for facility-specific choice are needed to guide MDRO prioritization, CP use and duration, and CP clearance policies, including time- or test-based protocols. Guidance should acknowledge limitations in adherence, number of private rooms and persistence of environmental reservoirs as major barriers to MDRO infection prevention and control identified in this survey.”
References: Coffey KC, Grossman T, Banach DB, Harris AD, Hooper DC, Huang SS and Shenoy ES. Current infection control practices for multidrug-resistant organisms( MDRO): a survey of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America( SHEA) research network and affiliated U. S.-based hospitals. Published online by Cambridge University Press Feb. 18, 2026. Accessible at: https:// shea-foundation. org / shea-research-network / status-of-the-prevention-of-multidrug-resistant-organisms-in-international-settings-a-survey-of-the-society-for-healthcare-epidemiology-of-america-research-network /
Safdar N, Sengupta S, Musuuza JS, et al. Status of the Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in International Settings: A Survey of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Research Network. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2017; 38:53-60. doi: 10.1017 / ice. 2016.242
The Key is Building the Best Strategies to Prevent Infections
IP & C Consulting can assist you with:
Developing a healthcare institution’ s infection prevention program
Helping a business, organization, or sports team that needs a plan for preventing infections, including COVID-19
Melissa Travis, MSN, RN, CIC has 20 years of experience in infection prevention techniques, working in a variety of settings, including an acute-care hospital, large teaching academic medical center, inpatient rehabilitation hospital, public health setting, and even a sports team. Missy received a bachelors of science in nursing from University of Kentucky, a bachelors of science in nursing arts from Georgetown College, and a masters of science in nursing from Vanderbilt University. She is an RN in Tennessee and certified in infection control.
To contact IP & C Consulting, LLC: mobile:( 615) 807-0428 email: missytravis @ ipandcconsulting. com website: www. ipandcconsulting. com
march-april 2026 • www. healthcarehygienemagazine. com •
23