Shaikh, Z. H., Osting, C. A., Hanna, H. A., Arbuckle, R. B., Tarr, J. J., & Raad, I. I. (2002). Effectiveness of a multifaceted infection control policy in reducing vancomycin usage and vancomycin-resistant enterococci at a tertiary care cancer centre. Journal of Hospital Infection, 51, 52–58.

DOI Link

Study Purpose

To evaluate the role of a multi-faceted infection control policy in decreasing the transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).

Intervention Characteristics/Basic Study Process

A surveillance program was initiated. The use of empirical vancomycin was limited in patients with febrile neutropenia to four specific situations.

Infection control staff monitored isolation practices and educated staff and visitors.

Setting

  • Tertiary hospital treating patients with cancer
  • Cancer center with 417 beds

Study Design

This was a prospective cohort study.

Results

The total incidence of VRE infections declined from 0.437 in 1,000 patient days to 0.229 in 1,000 patient days.

Limitations

  • No conceptual model was described.
  • Several measures were initiated at the same time.
  • Limited to one institution
  • Initiated after an outbreak
  • Multiple strategies were used at once; therefore, determining which was most the effective in preventing transmission was difficult.