Cost-Effectiveness Study Comparing Chlorhexidine Bathing With Active Surveillance Cultures to Prevent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus & Other Hospital Infections

Christiana Care Health Services

Status: Completed

Conditions: Staphylococcal Infections

Treatments: Other: Contact isolation; Other: Nasal swabs for MRSA culture; Drug: Chlorhexidine gluconate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT00779246

28116

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot study in our medical intensive care unit will evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of an active surveillance program for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), compared to routine daily bathing with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated cloths. Outcomes include rate of MRSA acquisition, and of other hospital-acquired infections (e.g., catheter-associated bloodstream infections).

Enrollment: 1,518 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) are eligible for inclusion

Exclusion criteria

• Patient refusal
• Contraindication to nasal swabbing (arm 1)
• Allergy/sensitivity to chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) (arm 2)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1,518 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Active Comparator group

Description:

Active surveillance cultures (ASC) (via nasal swabs) will be performed for all patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) during the designated study period. All patients will be placed in contact isolation until nasal swabs return negative; otherwise will remain in isolation.

Treatment:

Other: Contact isolation

Other: Nasal swabs for MRSA culture

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) cloths will be used to bathe patients daily instead of standard soap and water. Active surveillance cultures (ASC) will also be used in this arm, but results will be blinded and not used to determine whether patients should be in contact isolation.

Treatment:

Drug: Chlorhexidine gluconate

Other: Nasal swabs for MRSA culture