Detalle de: Impact of a new hospital with close to 100% single-occupancy rooms on environmental contamination and incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization or infection: a genomic surveillance study

Background Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) is a leading cause of nosocomial infection, driven by its ability to spread between patients and persist in the hospital environment. Aim To investigate the impact of a long-established cardiothoracic hospital moving to new premises with close to 100% single-occupancy rooms on the rates of environmental contamination and infection or colonization by VRE. Methods Prospective environmental surveillance for VRE was conducted at five time-points between April and November 2019, once in the original building, and four times in the new building. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of VRE infection/colonization were determined for the one-year period before and after the hospital move, and compared to a nearby hospital. Findings In the original location, the first environmental screen found 29% VRE positivity. The following four screens in the new location showed a significant reduction in positivity (1-6%; P Conclusion The use of single-occupancy rooms was associated with reduced environmental contamination with VRE, and lower transmission and isolation of VRE from clinical samples. The cost-effectiveness of single-occupancy room hospitals in reducing healthcare-associated infections should be reassessed in the context of operational costs of emerging pandemic and increasing antimicrobial resistance threats.