VHA has made an organizational commitment to a reduction in MRSA transmission and infection despite rates that are comparable to the national average.  The national initiative focuses on implementing the VHA MRSA Bundle which consists of four essential elements:

• Active Surveillance (Admission/Transfer/Discharge Swabbing)
• Aggressive Hand Hygiene
• Contact Precautions
• Cultural Transformation (Leadership and Staff Engagement)

Consistent use of the VHA MRSA Bundle has been shown to markedly reduce MRSA-related infections in the pilot facilities.  VHA's efforts will hopefully serve as a model of effective strategies for other health care systems in the reduction of MRSA transmission.

In August 2006, VA Pittsburgh hosted a national kickoff to include the 17 Beta Site hospitals participating in Phase I of the initiative.  They include all VISN 4 medical facilities and VA hospitals in Baltimore, MD, Buffalo, NY, Houston, TX, Lexington, KY, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, North Florida/South Georgia and Tucson, AZ.  Phase II of the initiative began in March 2007 and is a national roll-out to include all VHA medical facilities.  Each facility is initially asked to pilot the program in at least one unit but the ultimate goal is expansion of the program to all inpatient areas.