Laboratory-Nursing Partnerships in Managing Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs): A Comprehensive Review

Authors

  • Abdulkarim Hamad Al Atiyyah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Dalela Magna Al Mutairi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Khaleel Ibraheem Al Johani Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Mohammed Burayk Al Mutairi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Hadyl Shalan Al Abdaly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Imtenan Abdullah Albreak Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King khaled General hospital Majmaah
  • Meshal Abdullah Altoriqi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Zulfi General Hospital
  • Wasmiya Ayad Alrasheedi Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,King khaled General hospital Majmaah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64483/jmph-73

Keywords:

MDROs, laboratory-nursing partnerships, infection control, antimicrobial resistance, surveillance

Abstract

Background: Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a significant threat to global healthcare, causing prolonged hospitalizations, increased mortality, and substantial economic burdens. Effective management requires robust laboratory-nursing partnerships to enhance detection and infection control.
Aim: This review evaluates the efficacy of laboratory-nursing collaborations in managing MDROs, identifies best practices, and highlights opportunities for improvement in diverse healthcare settings.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, synthesizing studies from 2010–2025 on MDRO epidemiology, diagnostic techniques, infection control practices, and interdisciplinary strategies. Data from the CDC, WHO, and peer-reviewed journals were analyzed to assess the impact of laboratory-nursing synergies.
Results: Laboratory professionals utilize advanced diagnostics like PCR and MALDI-TOF MS for rapid MDRO identification, while nurses implement contact precautions and decolonization protocols, reducing transmission by up to 40%. Interdisciplinary communication, standardized protocols, and regional collaboratives, such as SHIELD-OC, have decreased MDRO prevalence by 30.4% in long-term care facilities. Challenges include resource constraints and variable protocol adherence.
Conclusions: Laboratory-nursing partnerships are critical for effective MDRO management. Standardizing protocols, leveraging technology, and fostering regional collaboration can enhance outcomes. Future research should explore cost-effective technologies like whole-genome sequencing and AI-based predictive models.

References

Anderson, D. J., et al. (2019). Strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69(Suppl 3), S172–S178.

Barlam, T. F., et al. (2016). Implementing an antibiotic stewardship program: Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 62(10), e51–e77.

Bauer, K. A., et al. (2016). Impact of rapid diagnostics on antimicrobial stewardship. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 73(Suppl 4), S97–S104.

Bonomo, R. A., et al. (2018). Carbapenemase-producing organisms: A global scourge. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 66(8), 1290–1297.

CDC. (2024). Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) management guidelines. Infection Control | CDC.

Climo, M. W., et al. (2013). Effect of daily chlorhexidine bathing on hospital-acquired infection. New England Journal of Medicine, 368(6), 533–542.

CLSI. (2023). Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

Dancer, S. J. (2014). Controlling hospital-acquired infection: Focus on the role of the environment. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 27(4), 665–690.

Geng, Y., et al. (2025). Infection prevention and control measures for multidrug-resistant organisms: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Infection.

Gussin, G. M., et al. (2024). Reducing hospitalizations and multidrug-resistant organisms via regional decolonization in hospitals and nursing homes. JAMA, 331(18), 1544–1557.

Hebden, J. N., et al. (2015). Nurse-driven interventions to reduce healthcare-associated infections. American Journal of Infection Control, 43(6), 596–601.

Huang, S. S., et al. (2020). Regional strategies to reduce multidrug-resistant organisms. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(3), 276–283.

Landelle, C., et al. (2014). Impact of specimen collection practices on diagnostic accuracy. Journal of Hospital Infection, 88(3), 145–151.

Monsees, E., et al. (2017). Integrating bedside nurses into antibiotic stewardship: A practical approach. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 38(7), 801–807.

Morgan, D. J., et al. (2015). Non-compliance with contact precautions for MDROs. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 36(9), 1009–1015.

Peacock, S. J., et al. (2018). Whole-genome sequencing for infection control. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 16(7), 438–450.

Parino, F., et al. (2021). Predictive modeling for MDRO outbreaks using AI. Journal of Medical Systems, 45(4), 45.

Saint, S., et al. (2016). Barriers to implementation of infection control practices. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37(9), 1011–1017.

Septimus, E., et al. (2014). Approaches to infection prevention in long-term care. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 35(Suppl 2), S59–S66.

Shenoy, E. S., et al. (2017). Patient education to reduce MDRO stigma. American Journal of Infection Control, 45(8), 883–888.

Siegel, J. D., et al. (2006). Management of multidrug-resistant organisms in healthcare settings. CDC.

Tacconelli, E., et al. (2018). Antibiotic resistance: A global health priority. Lancet Infectious Diseases, 18(3), e83–e94.

Timbrook, T. T., et al. (2017). The effect of molecular rapid diagnostic testing on clinical outcomes. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 64(3), 317–323.

Trick, W. E., et al. (2018). Electronic health records and infection control. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 39(4), 432–438.

Wong, V. W. Y., et al. (2022). Approaches to multidrug-resistant organism prevention and control in long-term care facilities. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 11, 7.

Zimlichman, E., et al. (2013). Simulation-based training for infection control. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 34(10), 1005–1012.

Al-Tawfiq, J. A., et al. (2019). Antimicrobial stewardship in the era of MDROs. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 74(Suppl 3), iii4–iii10.

Banach, D. B., et al. (2018). Duration of contact precautions for MDROs. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 39(2), 171–177.

Bearman, G., et al. (2018). Infection prevention in long-term care: Re-evaluating the role of nurses. American Journal of Infection Control, 46(8), 951–956.

Calfee, D. P., et al. (2014). Strategies to prevent MRSA transmission in healthcare settings. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 35(Suppl 2), S52–S58.

Donskey, C. J., et al. (2020). Environmental cleaning and MDRO control. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 71(Suppl 2), S103–S109.

Elligsen, M., et al. (2019). Optimizing laboratory reporting for MDRO surveillance. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 57(4), e01745–18.

Fakih, M. G., et al. (2016). Regional collaboratives for infection prevention. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37(8), 917–923.

Furuya, E. Y., et al. (2016). Community-based approaches to MDRO control. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 37(9), 1023–1029.

Harris, A. D., et al. (2019). Universal decolonization to prevent MDROs. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 69(10), 1728–1735.

Huskins, W. C., et al. (2011). Interventions to reduce MDRO transmission in ICUs. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(15), 1407–1418.

Jain, R., et al. (2011). Veterans Affairs initiative to prevent MRSA infections. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(15), 1419–1430.

Kallen, A. J., et al. (2010). Preventing infections in healthcare personnel. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 31(Suppl 1), S18–S27.

Karanika, S., et al. (2016). Colonization and infection with MDROs in LTCFs. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 22(6), 487–494.

Lee, M. H., et al. (2019). Behavioral strategies for infection prevention in LTCFs. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 40(7), 771–776.

Mody, L., et al. (2015). MDRO infections in long-term care facilities. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 61(8), 1327–1335.

Munoz-Price, L. S., et al. (2019). Infection prevention in the era of MDROs. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 32(2), e00034–18.

O’Neill, J. (2016). Tackling drug-resistant infections globally. Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Otter, J. A., et al. (2017). Environmental contamination and MDRO transmission. Journal of Hospital Infection, 97(1), 60–67.

Patel, P. K., et al. (2019). Decolonization strategies for MDRO control. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 40(8), 847–853.

Popovich, K. J., et al. (2018). Community-associated MRSA: Epidemiology and control. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 66(8), 1302–1309.

Schwaber, M. J., et al. (2011). Containment of a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 52(9), 1096–1102.

Sehulster, L., et al. (2003). Guidelines for environmental infection control in healthcare facilities. MMWR Recommendations and Reports, 52(RR-10), 1–42.

Weber, D. J., et al. (2019). Role of healthcare workers in MDRO transmission. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 40(6), 611–617.

Woodworth, K. R., et al. (2020). Vital signs: Containment of novel multidrug-resistant organisms. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(9), 225–230.

Downloads

Published

2024-12-28

How to Cite

Al Atiyyah, A. H., Al Mutairi, D. M., Al Johani, K. I., Al Mutairi, M. B., Al Abdaly, H. S., Albreak, I. A., … Alrasheedi, W. A. (2024). Laboratory-Nursing Partnerships in Managing Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs): A Comprehensive Review. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(1), 154–164. https://doi.org/10.64483/jmph-73

Issue

Section

Articles

Similar Articles

1 2 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.