Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control at the National University Hospital, Singapore: a historical perspective

ABSTRACT

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The National University Hospital (NUH) was the first restructured public hospital in Singapore. As the most recently established hospital in Singapore, it has a unique record of alert organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>We performed a critical review of multiple data sources including surveillance reports, task force reports, published abstracts and manuscripts concerning MRSA in NUH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three themes emerged 1) the MRSA rates have remained relatively stable through the life of the hospital despite the increased complexity of patients and intermittent intensified control efforts; 2) the major MRSA task forces were driven by surgeons and 3) a scientific approach to epidemiology has a critical role in understanding and planning interventions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Although containment of MRSA can be accomplished to a certain degree through mobilisation of existing resources, higher goals such as eradication would require massive infusions of infrastructural, scientific and human resources to have a chance of success.</p>