Rethinking Contact Precaution for Endemic MDROs

Date: 14 Oct 2026 |Time: 0830 - 0915 | Venue: The NAK Auditorium, Academia (SGH Campus) 

Track: Plenary 4

Speaker: Dr Kalisvar Marimuthu

Overview:

Contact precautions have been widely implemented as part of infection prevention strategies for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), largely based on historical practice and precautionary principles. In endemic settings, however, their role is increasingly being re-examined in light of evolving evidence and changing healthcare priorities. This talk reviews the current evidence across key MDROs, including MRSA, ESBL-producing organisms, and multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, highlighting variability in study findings and contextual applicability. It also considers the broader implications of contact precautions, including potential effects on patient experience, healthcare delivery, and environmental sustainability. Recognising the absence of definitive evidence to support a single universal approach, the session explores how institutions may approach decision-making using a structured, risk-based framework aligned with national standards and guidelines. The need for locally relevant data and well-designed implementation or de-implementation studies will be emphasised to inform future policy and practice.