Evidence-Based Recommendations to Protect Infants

CDC just released new recommendations for the prevention and control of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), in infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

S. aureus is the most commonly reported healthcare-associated infection organism in NICUs in the United States. CDC’s guidelines were developed following a systematic review of the best available scientific evidence about how to prevent and control S. aureus transmission to protect vulnerable infants.

The guideline makes specific recommendations about interventions to implement in NICUs when there is:

Evidence of ongoing S. aureus transmission
An increased number of new S. aureus infections
An outbreak

For important topics where evidence was insufficient for CDC to make an evidence-based recommendation about S. aureus in NICUs, companion guidance is available from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Any infection in an infant can be associated with long-term impacts, including negative long-term neurocognitive outcomes and poor prognosis. CDC’s new guideline will help guide the efforts of healthcare providers and facilities to prevent infections from S. aureus in the NICU population.