Perioperative management of multidrug-resistant organisms in health care settings.

Guidelines for managing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in health care settings were published by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) in October 2006. These guidelines outline appropriate strategies to help prevent MDRO cross transmission. Perioperative nurses should be prepared to implement these strategies in an effort to protect their surgical patients from contracting MDRO infections. The HICPAC recommends elevating contact precautions to "intensified interventions" in facilities with endemic outbreaks of MDROs. Perioperative nurses should participate in these efforts by adhering to infection control practices, championing these practices with other health care personnel, and providing clinical support and leadership.