NICU: S. aureus Guidelines
Guideline: NICU – S. aureus pdf icon[PDF – 29 pages] (print version)
Appendix: NICU – S. aureus pdf icon[PDF -142 pages] (print version)
Summary of Recommendations
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Recommendation
Category
1.a
Perform active surveillance testing for S. aureus colonization in neonatal intensive care unit patients when there is an increased incidence of S. aureus infection or in an outbreak setting.
Recommendation
1.b
Perform active surveillance testing for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization in neonatal intensive care unit patients when there is evidence of ongoing healthcare-associated transmission within the unit.
Recommendation
1.c
The use of active surveillance testing for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) colonization in neonatal intensive care unit patients to detect ongoing healthcare-associated MSSA transmission is an unresolved issue.
No Recommendation
1.d
If active surveillance testing for S. aureus colonization is implemented for neonatal intensive care unit patients, test at regular intervals to promptly identify newly colonized patients.
Recommendation
1.e.
If active surveillance testing for S. aureus colonization in neonatal intensive care unit patients is implemented, consider testing outborn infants or infants transferred from other newborn care units on admission to promptly identify newly admitted colonized patients.
Conditional Recommendation
1.f
If active surveillance for S. aureus colonization in neonatal intensive care unit patients is performed, either culture-based or polymerase chain reaction detection methods are acceptable.
Recommendation
1.g
If active surveillance for S. aureus colonization of neonatal intensive care unit patients is performed, collect samples from at least the anterior nares of neonatal intensive care unit patients.
Recommendation
2.a.
Consider targeted decolonization for S. aureus-colonized neonatal intensive care unit patients in addition to the implementation of, and adherence to, appropriate infection prevention and control measures in an outbreak setting, or when there is ongoing healthcare-associated transmission, or an increase in the incidence of infection.
Conditional Recommendation
2.b.
The use of universal decolonization for S. aureus-colonized neonatal intensive care unit patients is an unresolved issue.
No Recommendation
2.c.
The optimal decolonization agent or combination of agents remains an unresolved issue.
No Recommendation
3
Appropriate procedures to allow discontinuation of Contact Precautions for individual neonatal intensive care unit patients who have a history of colonization or infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is an unresolved issue.
No Recommendation