Epidemiology of MRSA and current strategies in Europe and Japan

The prevalence of health-care associated infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms has significantly increased over the past decade. Among these organisms, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) plays a prominent and increasing role. Because of consequences for patients and the economic burden in course of prolonged treatment following MRSA infections and additional indirect costs for e.g. isolation or antiseptic treatment, this trend will further damage European health-care systems. In 2006, a workshop was initiated at the 8(th) International Congress of the German Society of Hospital Hygiene held in Berlin. The aim of this workshop was to give an overview of the current situation of MRSA in selected European countries and to elaborate on potential strategies to prevent MRSA-infections and dissemination. A questionnaire encompassing 20 questions addressed topics such as epidemiology, current measures and future prospects was distributed to representatives from various European countries and Japan. A variety of widely different answers was obtained. It was shown that in all countries prevalence of MRSA is on a rising tide. This trend is observable in all European countries, albeit less strong in The Netherlands, Slovenia, France, Austria and Scandinavian countries. It was conclude that prevention strategies in a united and expanding European Community will become of utmost importance and that rapid screening strategies, e.g. PCR, might be of assistance in such an approach. A potential strategy to improve infection control measures could be the requirement of health-insurance providers to sign contracts only with hospitals able to proof having an infection control management in place.