Infection Control Report: Active Surveillance Program Evaluation

This report examines the implementation and benefits of active surveillance programs in healthcare settings, particularly concerning Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The author responds to a post emphasizing the importance of active surveillance over passive methods, citing the need for effective communication, accurate data from laboratories, and the reduction of MRSA infections in facilities. The report highlights the economic value of active surveillance, especially in high-risk settings such as hemodialysis and surgery, supported by references to studies by Gilbert and Cliffe (2016), Zacharioudakis et al. (2014), Lee et al. (2011), and Goldsack et al. (2014). These studies indicate that active surveillance, including routine testing and targeted interventions, can be cost-effective and improve patient outcomes by reducing infection rates and associated costs. The report emphasizes the potential to reduce costs and improve patient experience through active surveillance strategies.

Running Head: INFECTION
Infection
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Response to the post on implementing an active surveillance program
The given post succinctly presents the importance of the active surveillance system.
Active surveillance was initially given less preference as it requires more resources. To identify
the possible cases there is need of effective communication between the health departments and
the health care providers. There is also a need of accurate information from the laboratories on
specific disease (Gilbert and Cliffe 2016). It is evident from the post that active surveillance is
better than the passive surveillance. The active surveillance was able to decrease the MRSA
infection in the facility. The post was well supported with the relevant reference. The proposal
for active surveillance with decolonization of MRSA in selected settings, such as for patients
undergoing hemodialysis and surgery may hold significant economic value.
As per Zacharioudakis, et al. (2014), when compared to the general population, the
incidence of MSA infection 100 fold high among the dialysis patient. In the study by Lee et al.
(2011), the haemodialysis patients for the methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was
subjected to the routine periodic testing and the economic value was determined. As per the
results showed that the periodic testing in the selected setting may be the cost-effective strategy
if there is is wide range of prevalence. It might be effective over the broad range of
decolonization success rates.
In similar study by Goldsack et al. (2014), the cost impact of performing the active
surveillance on patients with positive MRSA. The study was conducted on patients admitted to
seven medical-surgical units. The findings of the paper supported the evidence that targeting
such patients with history of MRSA has the potential to improve otherwise placing them in

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isolation. The results showed that there is potential to reduce the cost and increase patient
experience.

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References
Gilbert, R. and Cliffe, S.J., 2016. Public Health Surveillance. In Public Health Intelligence (pp.
91-110). Springer International Publishing.
Goldsack, J.C., DeRitter, C., Power, M., Spencer, A., Taylor, C.L., Kim, S.F., Kirk, R. and
Drees, M., 2014. Clinical, patient experience and cost impacts of performing active surveillance
on known methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus positive patients admitted to medical-
surgical units. American journal of infection control, 42(10), pp.1039-1043.
Lee, B.Y., Song, Y., McGlone, S.M., Bailey, R.R., Feura, J.M., Tai, J.H.Y., Lewis, G.J.,
Wiringa, A.E., Smith, K.J., Muder, R.R. and Harrison, L.H., 2011. The economic value of
screening haemodialysis patients for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the
USA. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 17(11), pp.1717-1726.
Zacharioudakis, I.M., Zervou, F.N., Ziakas, P.D. and Mylonakis, E., 2014. Meta-analysis of
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and risk of infection in dialysis patients.