Improvement of nosocomial environment with electrolyzed oxidizing water and hospital infection controls of MRSA

Abstract

The prevention against the nosocomial MRSA infection was studied by using electrolyzed oxidizing water since December 1999. Examination of MRSA infection of all admitted patients in our hospital revealed that 24 (32%) of 75 patients in April 2000 were colonized or infected with MRSA. So we made the manual of environmental controls and confirmed that the improved manual was effective on bacteriological survey. Also electrolyzed oxidizing water was introduced for concurrent disinfection method of catheter after airway aspiration and the catheter was kept in the water for recurrent use. Molecular epidemiology of MRSA isolates in our hospital in December 2000 strongly suggested nosocomial infection. As a result of continuous hospital infection controls, MRSA disappeared from our hospital environment. The MRSA outbreak by a single strain were being stamped out in September 2001. (Only 2 of 9 isolates in September 2001 showed the same PFGE pattern (A1).) We consider that handwashing by medical personnel before and after all patient contacts is very important as hospital infection controls. © 2002, Japanese Society of National Medical Services. All rights reserved.