SAVE THE DATE!

When: January 8-9, 2008
Where: Albert Einstein Medical Center
5501 Old York Road
Philadelphia, PA 19141

Positive Deviance: Busting the MRSA Myth

Healthcare associated infections are one of the top ten leading causes of death in the United States. These infections afflict two million patients every year and a growing number of infections are resistant to standard antibiotic treatment. The antibiotic resistant infection most frequently identified in US hospitals is Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). The prevalence of MRSA increased 32-fold between 1976 and 2004. For every 1,000 persons in the US there are 46 people who are either infected or colonized with MRSA.

Despite its nationwide increase, MRSA is preventable. Plexus Institute, under a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is spearheading a prevention initiative that involves a partnership among Plexus, the Positive Deviance Initiative at Tufts University, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Southwest Pennsylvania MRSA Prevention Collaborative, the Delmarva Foundation, the Maryland Patient Safety Center, and a nationwide network of 40 hospitals. Six “beta site” hospitals are using Positive Deviance, an innovative social change process, in their MRSA prevention work.

Fighting MRSA is not just a responsibility for epidemiologists and infection control professionals. It requires the attention and energy of every person in the healthcare environment, from van drivers, housekeepers, administrators, and doctor sand nurses to patients, families and visitors. Positive Deviance is one way to create that engagement. We began this project a year ago, and early results in declining MRSA rates are very encouraging. In addition, hospital staffs are reporting improved relationships with patients and among people who work traditionally together as well as those who have not previously collaborated. We’ve known for decade how to prevent infection. The hard part is making sure that all those things are done, all the time. New cooperation and new relationships allow people to find creative ways to make sure all the necessary steps are followed, and to remove the unexpected barriers that prevent them from being followed consistently.

Join us as experienced practitioners present their experiences with PD and the results they have achieved in preventing MRSA transmissions. Learn with team members and PD support coaches who will share their insights on a successful approach to stopping the spread of MRSA. All are welcome!

Stay tuned for more details..............