Combined Assessment Program Summary Report - Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Veterans Health Administration Facilities

OIG evaluated the management of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities by determining whether facilities complied with applicable guidelines and standards regarding MDRO, hand hygiene, isolation, and environmental cleanliness and whether facilities adequately communicated about patients infected or colonized with MDRO. OIG conducted this review at 24 facilities during Combined Assessment Program reviews performed from October 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011. VHA facilities recognized the importance of establishing and maintaining measures to reduce the incidence of health care-associated infections due to MDRO. OIG identified three areas where compliance with MDRO requirements needed improvement and recommended that patients infected or colonized with MDRO and their families receive infection prevention strategies education, that facilities provide MDRO education to designated staff based on risk assessment results, and that facilities develop policies and programs that control and reduce antimicrobial agent usage.