Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Russell N. Olmsted
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Letters15 November 1996Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusRussell N. Olmsted, MPH, Paul N. Valenstein, MD, and Charles P. Craig, MDRussell N. Olmsted, MPHSt. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.Search for more papers by this author, Paul N. Valenstein, MDSt. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.Search for more papers by this author, and Charles P. Craig, MDSt. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-125-10-199611150-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Some of the measures outlined in the recent article by Edmond and colleagues [1] appear to be misplaced and ignore experience with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Boyce and colleagues [2] extensively reviewed the literature on methicillin-resistant S. aureus and emphasized moderate reaction in the absence of proven benefit or more extreme measures and found no evidence of either airborne or fomite transmission. Their observations should serve as a warning to those who advocate extreme control measures for vancomycin-resistant S. aureus in the absence of any experience with the organism. Sampling of surfaces in the room of the patient ...References1. Edmond MB, Wenzel RP, Pasculle AW. Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: perspectives on measures needed for control. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 124:329-34. Google Scholar2. Boyce JM, Jackson MM, Pugliese G, Batt MD, Fleming D, Garner JS, et al. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): a briefing for acute care hospitals and nursing facilities. The AHA Technical Panel on Infections within Hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:105-15. Google Scholar3. Wells CL, Juni BA, Cameron SB, Mason KR, Dunn DL, Ferrieri P, et al. Stool carriage, clinical isolation, and mortality during an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in hospitalized medical and/or surgical patients. Clin Infect Dis. 1995; 21:45-50. Google Scholar4. Goldmann DA, Weinstein RA, Wenzel RP, Tablan OC, Duma RJ, Gaynes RP, et al. Strategies to prevent and control the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms in hospitals. A challenge to hospital leadership. JAMA. 1996; 275:234-40. Google Scholar5. Strain BA, Groschel DH. Laboratory safety and infectious waste management. In: Murray PR, Baron EJ, Pfaller MA, Tenover FC, Yolker RH, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 1995:75-85. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 November 1996Volume 125, Issue 10Page: 858KeywordsAntimicrobial resistanceAntimicrobialsClinical laboratoriesClinical microbiologyEpidemiologyHealth care facilitiesHealth care sectorInfectious disease controlMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureus Issue Published: 15 November 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...