MRSA Isolation

From the Houston Chronicle

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A Syracuse hospital is taking an unusual approach to stopping the spread of antibiotic resistant staph infections by putting all patients with the superbug on the same floor.

Since 2000, Crouse Hospital has operated a unit on the seventh floor of its Memorial unit that cares exclusively for patients with MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Hospital officials say the dedicated 17-bed unit — the only one of its kind in the United States — has slowed the spread of MRSA in the hospital, improved patient care and saved the hospital about $1 million.