CONTROL OF INFECTIONS CAUSED BY MULTIDRUG -RESISTANT ORGANISMS IN FRENCH HOSPITALS - EXAMPLE OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS

An assessment of the management of infections caused by methicillin-re sistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was performed on a representative sample of French hospitals randomizely selected. This study shows tha t French hospitals implemented lately MRSA surveillance program since in 1990 only 6 % these hospitals had such surveillance program while t he incidence of MRSA infect-ions was already high (0.4 % admissions). However, since 1990 surveillance programs have been implemented in mos t hospitals with a collaboration between microbiologists, infection co ntrol personnel and clinical units' personnel. The implementation of t hese programs was associated with a decrease in the incidence of MRSA infections.