Cost-Effectiveness of Universal Screening of Healthy Newborns for Nasal Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization at Birth.

摘要

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are increasing in frequency and are an emerging problem among pregnant women and newborn infants.1 The incidence of MRSA vaginal colonization among pregnant women usually ranges from 0.5% to 3.5%.However, in a recent study of pregnant women in Tennessee, 10.5% of genital swab specimens submitted for routine screening for Group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus also tested positive for MRSA.4 MRSA colonization is a risk factor for nosocomial transmission and subsequent MRSA infection. The incidence and consequence of MRSA colonization among newborn infants is not well characterized.Our institution, a 571-bed tertiary care academic institution, is a state-designated perinatal center that serves 8 regional hospitals. We have approximately 1,400 deliveries per year. Since December 2007, our institution has conducted universal surveillance of all patients for nasal MRSA colonization upon admission to the hospital. However, the cost-effectiveness of universal surveillance for MRSA colonization among healthy newborn infants is not known. We analyzed our data to determine the incidence of nasal MRSA colonization among newborn infants at birth and the cost-effectiveness of universal MRSA screening of healthy term new-borns.