PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Smith, Hayden L.
AU  - DuMontier, Samuel P.
AU  - Bushman, Amanda M.
AU  - Hurdelbrink, Jonathan R.
AU  - Yost, William J.
AU  - Craig, Steven R.
TI  - Change in Methicillin-Resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> Testing in the Intensive Care Unit as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiative
AID  - 10.31486/toj.22.0103
DP  - 2023 Jun 20
TA  - Ochsner Journal
PG  - 136--146
VI  - 23
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/23/2/136.short
4100  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/23/2/136.full
SO  - Ochsner J2023 Jun 20; 23
AB  - Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)–associated infections are a cause of morbidity and mortality in the intensive care unit (ICU). Vancomycin is a treatment option but is not without risks.Methods: A MRSA testing change—the switch from culture to polymerase chain reaction—was implemented at 2 adult (tertiary and community) ICUs located in a Midwestern US health system. Data from 2016 to 2020 were included in the study, and the median change in time to test results was examined.Results: During the study period, 71% of 19,975 patients seen at the 2 ICUs received MRSA testing. In the preintervention period, 91% and 99% of patients at the tertiary and community hospitals received testing via culture, respectively. Culture testing was used 1% and ∼0% of the time at the tertiary and community hospitals, respectively, in the postintervention period. A counterfactual estimate showed 36 (95% credible interval [CrI], 35, 37) and 32 (95% CrI, 31, 33) fewer hours until results were available at the tertiary and community hospitals, respectively.Conclusion: After the testing change, MRSA results were available in less time. Obtaining results sooner can assist with antimicrobial stewardship through the potential delay in initiating therapies such as vancomycin and/or quicker de-escalation of such therapies.