Curbing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 38 French hospitals through a 15-year institutional control program.

Results: There was a significant progressive decrease in MRSA burden (�35%) from 1993 to 2007, whether recorded as the proportion (expressed as percentage) of MRSA amongSaureus strains (41.0% down to 26.6% overall; 45.3% to 24.2% in blood cultures) or incidence of MRSA cases (0.86 down to 0.56 per 1000 hospital days). The MRSA burden decreased more markedly in intensive care units (�59%) than in surgical (�44%) and medical (�32%) wards. The use of ABHR solutions (in liters per 1000 hospital days) increased steadily fro m2Lt o 21 L( to 26 Li nacute care hospitals and to 10 L in rehabilitation and long-term care hospitals) following the campaign. Conclusion: A sustained reduction of MRSA burden can be obtained at the scale of a large hospital institution with high endemic MRSA rates, providing that an intensive program is maintained for a long period.