The study was conducted in the NICU of a tertiary referral center which was organized into single-patient and open-unit rooms. Clinical data sets including bed location and microbiology results were then examined over the next 29 months.
Of the more than 1,800 patients studied, single-patient and open-unit models had similar incidences of MRSA colonization and MRSA colonization-free survival times. Late-onset sepsis rates were also similar in single-patient and open-unit models, as were sepsis-free survival rates and the combined outcome of sepsis or death.
Ultimately, the researchers concluded single-patient rooms did not reduce the rates of MRSA colonization, late-onset sepsis or death. However, they did discover the NICU’s MRSA colonization rate was impacted by hand hygiene compliance, regardless of room configuration.
More articles on infection control:
Hospital finds hand hygiene compliance goes up after eliminating mandatory glove use
A non-antibiotic drug could work against C. diff, study finds
Placing catheters under collarbone reduces bloodstream infections, study finds
