The Effectiveness of Laboratory Tests in Detecting Emerging Infectious Disease

Abstract

Background:
Effective infection control is essential to reduce healthcare-associated infections and multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of infection control efforts by analyzing microbiological data and infection control indicators in a single hospital, focusing on trends in MRSA prevalence .
Methods:
This study utilized data from the hospital’s microbiology laboratory database, including MRSA prevalence, nasal or pharyngeal swab rates, blood culture utilization, and hand-wash gel usage. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and trend comparisons over a five-year period.
Results:
MRSA prevalence among Staphylococcus aureus isolates significantly decreased from 68.2% to 52.3% (P<.05). The rate of nasal/pharyngeal swabs increased by 58.1%, reflecting enhanced screening efforts (P<.05). Blood culture utilization rose by 41.7% (P<.05), and hand-wash gel usage per patient increased by 38.2% (P<.01). A strong negative correlation was observed between hand-wash gel usage and MRSA prevalence (r = -0.72, P<.01), and a positive correlation was found between screening rates and blood culture use (r = 0.64, P<.05).
Conclusion:
The findings demonstrate significant improvements in infection control practices, including enhanced hand hygiene, active MRSA screening, and improved diagnostic measures, contributing to a substantial reduction in MRSA prevalence. Sustained efforts to maintain certified infection control personnel, implement evidence-based protocols, and utilize microbiological data-sharing systems are critical to achieving regional infection control objectives and ensuring patient safety.