Hospital Acquired Infections: VISA and VRSA
It is widely known that Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the most common cause of nosocomial, or hospital originating, infections. The proportion of S. aureus infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has steadily grown over the years, limiting treatment options for a significant number of patients. One effective treatment option that has been widely used by healthcare providers to combat MRSA is vancomycin, an antibiotic that is safe for use in patients with penicillin allergies. As was the case with methicillin many years ago, infectious disease clinicians have recently encountered cases of S. aureus infections that are either partially or entirely resistant to vancomycin (VISA and VRSA, respectively). While VISA and VRSA infections are currently considered rare, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing guidance for clinicians and infection control personnel while working with state and local health agencies, healthcare facilities, and clinical microbiology laboratories to ensure that laboratories are using proper methods to detect VISA and VRSA. CDC has reported that persons who are at increased risk for developing VISA and VRSA infections are those with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, previous infections with MRSA, tubes inserted through their skin into their bodies (such as intravenous, or IV, catheters), recent hospitalizations, and recent exposure to vancomycin and other antimicrobial agents.
Because inappropriate antibiotic use is a major cause of antimicrobial resistance, CDC has established several programs to promote appropriate use of antimicrobial agents. One program that focuses on patients in healthcare facilities is the Campaign to Prevent Antimicrobial Resistance. For more information about this campaign, including “Tips for Patients”, please click here. For more information about VISA and VRSA in particular, including Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.