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The problem of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection in healthcare institutions has been recognized for decades. Despite control efforts, the burden of infection has increased in many centers. In 1993, a consortium of 38 teaching hospitals (acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care facilities) in France launched an aggressive attack on this pathogen. The program included identification of patients with MRSA infection or colonization, isolation interventions, and promotion of hand hygiene.
In the acute care hospitals, the proportion of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates decreased from 39.4% in 1993 to 21.6% in 2007 (relative change, –45%; P<0.001). The incidence of MRSA cases per 100 admissions also…