[MRSA bloodstream infections according to the German obligation for notification - data and experience of the MDRO Network Rhine-Main, Germany, 2011].

Background: Since July 1st, 2009 in accord with the statuary order based on the German law for infectious diseases (Infektionsschutzgesetz), MRSA in blood and liquor have to be notified to the public health authorities. The aim of this extension of the notification to report is to improve the surveillance of nosocomial infections and the prevention of nosocomial MRSA infections. In this paper data of the notifications in the year 2011 within the MDRO-Net Rhine-Main, an association of 7 public health authorities in the region, are reported in order to investigate whether the aims of the obligation for notification could be achieved.
Results: In 2011, 138 MRSA bloodstream infections, including 1 MRSA in liquor culture, were notified to the 7 health protection authorities, resulting in an incidence rate of 5.6/100,000 inhabitants. In urban regions with more hospitals available, the incidence rate was higher than in rural districts with less medical facilities (6.9 vs. 4.4/100,000 inhabitants). Only 46 (35%) of the patients with MRSA cultured in their blood had been detected via anamnesis as patients on risk for MRSA, and 59 (45%) had been screened for MRSA on admission. The incidence rate in the different hospitals was 0.041 ± 0.031/1,000 patient days (range 0-0.145/1,000 patient days).
Conclusions: For the first time, data on notification of MRSA cultures in blood specimen are published from a whole MRE Network in Germany encompassing >2.1 million inhabitants. Incidence rates per 100,000 inhabitants alone do not seem adequate to cope with the aims of the obligation for notification. Instead, reference to patient days in the respective clinic enables an external comparison to other medical institutions in the region and is a better base for discussion with these institutions on improvements of surveillance, screening and hygiene.
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