The effect of isolation precautions on care processes and medical outcomes in patients colonized with MRSA

Background: Isolation precautions used in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection control are effective in inhibiting pathogen transmission, but may cause unintended consequences in medical care. In addition, while costs attributed to MRSA are known to be substantial, little is known about their reimbursement in the German Diagnosis Related Groups (G-DRG) payment system. The aim of our study was to examine the effect of isolation precautions used in MRSA infection control on care processes, patient outcomes and deliver reliable data on MRSA-attributed reimbursement. Methods: A retrospective, matched cohort study of inpatients admitted to a general care teaching hospital in Bad Neuenahr, Germany, between January 1(st), 2016, and December 31(st), 2017 was performed. Patients isolated for MRSA colonization were matched to non-isolated controls based on age, gender, MRSA-adjusted Patient Clinical Complexity Level (Ma-PCCL) and Major Diagnostic Category (MDC). Main outcome measures on care processes and patient outcomes included adverse events, patient complaints, 30-day readmission rates, length of stay, type of discharge, and performance of instrument-based diagnostics. MRSA-attributed reimbursement was measured by conducting two separate G-DRG groupings, one with inclusion of MRSA-related codes and one without. Results: A total of 26,059 patients were admitted to Maria Hilf Hospital in Bad Neuenahr, Germany, during the study period. We identified 304 patients isolated for MRSA colonization. Compared to non-isolated matched controls, those on isolation precautions for MRSA colonization acquired about 45% more pressure ulcers and experienced significant delays in the performance of radiological diagnostics and echocardiographs. Patients isolated for MRSA colonization received about 49% fewer echocardiographs and had about 38% fewer abdominal ultrasound exams performed compared to non-isolated matched controls. A non-significant tendency towards fewer discharges to rehabilitation clinics and higher mortality rates were observed in patients isolated for MRSA colonization. Reimbursements were negligibly affected when MRSA-related codes were integrated by the grouper. Conclusion: Isolation precautions are associated with adverse consequences for care processes. These consequences need to be mitigated in order to justify placing patients at risk.