Abstract

The utility of contact precautions (CPs) for multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization and infection remains a debatable component of infection prevention for many reasons. Applying CPs for MDRO colonization and infection includes financial costs associated with nursing workloads, patient supplies, patient throughput delays, and social isolation concerns for patients. Recent literature indicates the discontinuance of CPs and the application of standard precautions (SPs) for MDRO colonization and infection is an effective infection prevention strategy, as it decreases associated costs without increasing infection risks or adverse events. The objective of this project was to evaluate the effects on MDRO hospital-onset infection rates, overall patient experience scores and associated financial costs when making a practice change from CPs to SPs for MDRO colonization and infection. The results of this project may provide an impetus for changes in practice by providing a cost-effective alternative to disease prevention and affording clinicians more purposeful time to focus on delivering quality patient care. Further practice implications may be transferable to other MDROs and, as such, provide a greater focus on quality patient care by reducing potential adverse events and maintaining fiscal responsibilities.

Darlene Carey

Author Details

Darlene Carey, DNP, RN, CIC, NE-BC, FAPIC

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

N/A

Keywords:

Discontinuing, Discontinuance, Removal of Contact Precautions for MDRO

Advisor

Dorcas Kunkel

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Jacksonville University

Degree Year

2019

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Faculty Approved: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2019-06-03

Full Text of Presentation

wf_yes

Download

Share

COinS