Current approaches to screening for Multi-resistant Organisms (MRO) in acute care Australian and selected New Zealand hospitals and recommendations for a minimum standard

Abstract

This article provides information regarding current screening practices. Draft recommendations have been compiled to foster debate regarding a national approach to multi-resistant organisms (MRO) screening in acute care Australian and New Zealand hospitals. There is no consensus internationally as to the best manner in which to conduct screening for MROs. The AICA National Advisory Board decided that to facilitate a consensus approach towards MRO screening, it was useful to describe current screening practices in detail.Hospital infection control practitioners and microbiologists were invited to respond to a survey questionnaire distributed bye-mail to infection control, infectious diseases and microbiology specialists with involvement in infection control. In order to improve response rates, where necessary, individuals in each state were approached directly.Surveys were completed by representatives from a majority of large public hospitals and a significant number of private and district hospitals. There was wide variation in practice in Australian hospitals with regard to screening of patients for MROs. The approaches (clinical and microbiological) taken in different hospital settings, different clinical services and to each of the different MROs - MRSA, VRE and multi-resistant Gram negatives (MRGN) - are described. Approaches to ‘clearing’ previously colonised patients are also described.