Management of outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the neonatal intensive care unit : A consensus statement

Objective. In 2002, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH; Chicago, Illinois) convened the Chicago‐Area Neonatal MRSA Working Group (CANMWG) to discuss and compare approaches aimed at control of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). To better understand these issues on a regional level, the CDPH and the Evanston Department of Health and Human Services (EDHHS; Evanston, Illinois) began an investigation. Design. Survey to collect demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and epidemiologic data on individual cases and clusters of MRSA infection; an additional survey collected data on infection control practices. Setting. Level III NICUs at Chicago‐area hospitals. Participants. Neonates and healthcare workers associated with the level III NICUs. Methods. From June 2001 through September 2002, the participating hospitals reported all clusters of MRSA infection in their respective level III NICUs to the CDPH and the EDHHS. Results. Thirteen clusters of ...