Clinical trial NCT00941122: Comparison of Elution Swab (ESwab) and Amies Transport Swabs for Screening Patients for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Colonization
Official title: Comparison of Elution Swab (ESwab) and Amies Transport Swabs for Screening Patients for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Colonization
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Eluted Swab
Keywords: MRSA, VRE
Lead sponsor: McMaster University
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: McMaster University
name: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
First posted: 2009-07-17
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Hospitalized patients known to be colonized with MRSA/VRE

Brief summary: 1.To assess whether the Elution swab (ESwab) is superior to Amies transport swabs for the detection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) in colonized patients and to determine whether nasal cultures alone is sufficient for detection of MRSA isolates in hospitalized patients. 2.To assess patient comfort in the use of the ESwab vs. Amies Transport swab for screening patients for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

Detailed description: MRSA is a major cause of nosocomial and life threatening infections. Infections with MRSA have been associated with a significantly higher morbidity, mortality and costs than methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).1 Selection of these organisms has been greatest in the healthcare setting; however, MRSA have also become more prevalent in the community.2 To control the transmission of MRSA, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has recommended guidelines, which include an active surveillance program to identify potential reservoirs and a rigorous infection control program to control the spread of MRSA. Accurate identification of patients colonized with MRSA is essential in managing the transmission of the organism. It is currently unknown whether the currently utilized collection rayon swab is the optimal swab in detecting colonized patients The purpose of this study is to directly compare whether Eluted (ESwab) swab is superior to the currently utilized rayon swab in identifying MRSA/VRE colonized patients.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Hospitallized patients known to be colonized with MRSA/VRE

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unable to provide informed consent

Primary outcomes:
measure: 1. To assess whether the Elution swab (ESwab) is superior to Amies transport swabs for the detection of MRSA/VRE
timeFrame: 12 months
measure: 1. To assess whether the Elution swab (ESwab) is superior to Amies transport swabs for the detection of MRSA/VRE in colonized patients
timeFrame: 12 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: To assess patient comfort in the use of the ESwab vs. Amies Transport swab for screening patients for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.
timeFrame: 12 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hamilton
country: Canada
facility: St. Joseph's Healthcare
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: McMaster University
name: Christine Lee, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: