896. A Safe, More Cost-Effective Protocol: Universal Decolonization vs. MRSA Screening and Contact Precautions

BACKGROUND: A trial of universal decolonization (alcohol-based nasal antiseptic plus chlorhexidine gluconate bathing) was instituted for 12 months, in a 536-bed short-term acute care hospital, as a replacement for nasal screening, contact precautions (CP) and decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-colonized patients. The impact on the rate of MRSA bacteremia and costs associated with nasal screening tests, isolation, and gown use was assessed. METHODS: Prior to the universal decolonization trial, patients at high-risk for MRSA colonization were screened using a nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and those that tested positive were decolonized with 5 days of mupirocin nasal ointment and daily CHG bathing, and were placed in CP. Starting in April 2018, a universal decolonization protocol was instituted for all hospitalized patients, with a twice-daily alcohol-based nasal antiseptic (in place of mupirocin), and daily bathing with CHG foam soap (in place of CHG cloths). Nasal screening of high-risk patients, targeted decolonization and CP for MRSA-colonized patients, was discontinued during the 12-month universal decolonization trial period. Outcome measures for the trial included MRSA bacteremia per National Healthcare Surveillance Network (NHSN) multi-drug-resistant organism (MDRO) Lab ID definition, isolation day count, utilization of gowns, and nasal screening tests with estimated costs associated. Measures for the 12-month trial period were compared with those of the prior 12-month period, i.e., April 2017–March 2018. RESULTS: Compared with prior 12-month period, during the universal decolonization trial, there was a 42% reduction in isolation days ($118/day), a 74% reduction in nasal PCR tests ($36/each), and an 11% decrease in the monthly use of gowns ($12/each). The total cost avoidance (after accounting for the cost of the alcohol-based nasal antiseptic and CHG soap) was $1,394,685. There was no statistical change in the MRSA bacteremia rate (0.067 to 0.070) per 1,000 patient-days. CONCLUSION: Replacement of nasal screening, decolonization, and CP for colonized MRSA patients with universal decolonization, using twice daily alcohol-based nasal antiseptic paired with daily CHG bathing, was found to be a safe and cost-saving protocol. DISCLOSURES: All Authors: No reported Disclosures.