Table 1 Transitions and Parameters for a Mathematical Model of MRSA Acquisition in an Intensive Care Unit

H to S

ιH

ι: Effective hand-decontaminations per hour (# of direct care tasks × hand hygiene compliance × efficacy)

ι: 5.74 (10.862 direct care tasks × 56.55% compliance × ~ 95% efficacy)

ι: [4, 8, 9, 20]

H to S

\( \tau H\frac{C}{C+U} \)

τ: Effective gown/glove changes per hour (2 × # of visits × compliance)

τ: 2.389 (2.89 changes per hour × 82.66% compliance)

τ: [4, 21]

S to H

\( \rho \sigma C\frac{S}{\left(S+H+C+U\right)} \)

ρ: Contact rate between patients and HCWs.

σ: Probability that a HCW’s hands are contaminated by contact with a colonized patient or their environment

ρ: 4.154 direct care tasks/h

σ: 0.054

ρ: [8, 9]

σ: [21]

U to C

\( \rho \psi U\frac{H}{\left(S+H+C+U\right)} \)

ψ: Probability of successful colonization of an uncolonized patient due to contact with a contaminated HCW.

ψ: 0.0931

ψ: Fitted to [4]

U Discharge to U Admission

θν _U U

θ: Probability of discharge (1/average length of stay)

ν_U: Proportion of admissions uncolonized with MRSA

θ: 0.00949

ν_U: 0.922

θ: [4]

ν_U: [4]

U Discharge to C Admission

θν _C U

ν_C: Proportion of admissions colonized with MRSA

ν_C: 0.078

ν_C: [4]

C Discharge to U Admission

θν _U C

C Discharge to C Admission

θν _C C