Infection Control Program To Reduce MRSA in ENT Outpatients

ISSUE: It has been reported that the methicillin-resistant rate of S. aureus and the MRSA isolation rate in ENT outpatient departments are higher than in any other medical services, which means that there is a high risk of transmission of MRSA among patients. For this reason, we have carried an infection control program in order to reduce the MRSA isolation rate in otorhinolaryngology departments PROJECT: We applied the 6-sigma method, as an infection control activity, which consists of ENT department, laboratory medicine, nursing department, and infection office during January–August 2003. RESULTS: We analyzed the data for 146 patients during April–July 2002, and for the 207 patients during April–July 2003. There were no significant differences between two periods in the rate of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (65.1% and 71.1%, p>0.05), and the proportion of first visit MRSA-isolated patients (50.0% and 65.2%). The MRSA isolation rate of the follow-up patient was, on the other hand, decreased significantly from 26.2% to 13.3% (P=0.02, from 2.2sigma to 2.7sigma). LESSONS LEARNED: We have confirmed the possibility of application of the 6-sigma activity to infection control. And furthermore, it should be said that the high proportion of the first visit in MRSA-isolated patients implies the need for cooperation with local healthcare facilities and communities.