Title
Staphylococcus aureus Disease Prevention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Authoring Organization
Publication Month/Year
September 13, 2020
Last Updated Month/Year
October 15, 2024
Document Type
Consensus
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Document Objectives
Provides clinicians with practical guidance on the implementation of Staphylococcus aureus infection prevention measures for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Except where otherwise specified, “S. aureus” refers to both methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
PICO Questions
Should family members and visitors wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when visiting an infant on contact precautions for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)?
If a parent is known to have methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection or colonization, should healthcare personnel place infants on contact precautions, encourage skin-to-skin bonding, and/or institute breastfeeding restrictions?
In cases of multiple gestations with discordant methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) status (eg, one twin with MRSA colonization and the other twin without MRSA colonization), should healthcare personnel place discordant multiples on contact precautions, permit skin-to-skin care with parents, and/or institute breastfeeding restrictions?
How long should healthcare personnel maintain contact precautions for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)-colonized neonates and what are reasonable criteria for discontinuation of contact precautions?
Should healthcare personnel consider active surveillance cultures of hospitalized neonates for S. aureus and if so, what are the best strategies?
What are potential methods and indications for decolonizing NICU infants colonized with S. aureus?
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Infant
Health Care Settings
Emergency care, Hospital
Intended Users
Epidemiology infection prevention, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Management, Prevention
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D007363 - Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, D015931 - Intensive Care, Neonatal, D013211 - Staphylococcus aureus
Keywords
infection prevention, Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, NICU, neonatal intensive care unit
Source Citation
Akinboyo IC, Zangwill KM, Berg WM, Cantey JB, Huizinga B, Milstone AM. SHEA neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) white paper series: Practical approaches to Staphylococcus aureus disease prevention. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020 Nov;41(11):1251-1257. doi: 10.1017/ice.2020.51. Epub 2020 Sep 14. PMID: 32921340.