Catheter-associated MRSA infections have dropped by half in ICUs in the last decade, JAMA reports. That's great news for the infectious disease crowd but why is combating drug-resistant staph infections of such interest to a health policy blog? Because it shows that reformers and quality initiatives can win over physicians and other skeptics, devise fairly simple interventions that work, and improve the quality of care in a way that can also save money. Some of the techniques are really quite simple once they are applied consistently, as Lindsay Tanner notes in this AP story:

The study authors say the results are likely a sign that doctors and nurses are working harder at prevention efforts. These include frequent hand-washing, instrument sterilization and other measures.

Of course, this is only one aspect of the fight against the so-called "superbugs." Other scary bugs besides MRSA are posing dangers to patients, and the ICU is only one of many settings where these germs are found. If you want to follow this issue more closely, or want more detailed insight into what the CDC study does and does not mean, check out Maryn McKenna's Superbug blog.