The Rising Problem of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in Intensive Care Units

Because of antimicrobial overuse and misuse, the issue of multidrug-resistant organisms has been increasingly significant. Multidrug-resistant organism infection is of extreme concern in critical care patients. Infections with these organisms are difficult to treat because of the elevated rate of antimicrobial therapy failure. Such infections are linked to high mortality, poor prognosis, prolonged hospital stays, and increased medical expenses. Nineteen percent of patients with intensive care unit stays of greater than 24 hours acquire infections. Critically ill patients have risk factors that make them susceptible to infections. Critical care nurses must implement infection prevention interventions. Infection control strategies can be categorized as vertical or horizontal. Vertical approaches target a single pathogen; horizontal approaches are nonspecific. Infection control practice compliance is vital to prevent transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms through cross-contamination. This article discusses the severity of multidrug-resistant organism infection, risk factors, and infection prevention strategies in critical care settings.