A research study conducted on newly admitted patients at two hospitals in Michigan revealed a correlation between severe functional dependence and increased chances of patients harboring multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) on their hands. The researchers found that these patients were less likely to be able to clean their hands independently, according to the report published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. The data for the study was accrued through the Patient Hand Hygiene Project Initiative. The initiative observed 399 general medicine patients over a six-month period in 2017.
The results indicated that the likelihood of any MDRO contamination was significantly elevated among the severely dependent patients. Severe dependence was-gauged via the Katz Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale. Severe dependency was associated with higher rates of hand contamination with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. It is important to note there was no association found with resistant gram-negative bacteria.The study also highlighted the risk of severe dependent patients’ rooms being susceptible to MRSA contamination.
This research helps pave the way for more targeted hand hygiene initiatives aimed at patients based on their functionality. Future studies are encouraged to take into account a patient’s ability to perform hand hygiene across different healthcare settings, thereby promoting personalized interventions. The findings are significant in enhancing the understanding of infection prevention professionals working in hospitals, assisting them in their role of curbing the spread of infections in healthcare facilities.
In related news, a review published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy brings to light that the prevalence of polymyxin-resistant bacterial strains in India surpasses the global average. Polymyxins are antibiotics used as a last line of defense against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Resistance to polymyxins has emerged globally within the last decade, largely due to their widespread use in healthcare and on food-producing animals. The review underlines the need for robust measures to contain further spread of the polymyxin-resistant bacteria and the development of improved versions of polymyxins and their derivatives.