Staphylococcus Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Staphylococcus, including details on mrsa, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Impact of rapid molecular screening for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in surgical wards.

Keshtgar MR, Khalili A, Coen PG, Carder C, Macrae B, Jeanes A, Folan P, Baker D, Wren M, Wilson AP

Department of Surgery, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK. m.keshtgar@ucl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of rapid molecular screening for hospital-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in surgical patients within a teaching hospital. METHODS: In 2006, nasal swabs were obtained before surgery from all patients undergoing elective and emergency procedures, and screened for MRSA using a rapid molecular technique. MRSA-positive patients were started on suppression therapy of mupirocin nasal ointment (2 per cent) and undiluted chlorhexidine gluconate bodywash. RESULTS: A total of 18,810 samples were processed, of which 850 (4.5 per cent) were MRSA positive. In comparison to the annual mean for the preceding 6 years, MRSA bacteraemia fell by 38.5 per cent (P < 0.001), and MRSA wound isolates fell by 12.7 per cent (P = 0.031). The reduction in MRSA bacteraemia and wound infection was equivalent to a saving of 3.78 beds per year (276,220 pounds sterling), compared with the annual mean for the preceding 6 years. The cost of screening was 302,500 pounds sterling, making a net loss of 26,280 pounds sterling. Compared with 2005, however, there was a net saving of 545,486 pounds sterling. CONCLUSION: Rapid MRSA screening of all surgical admissions resulted in a significant reduction in staphylococcal bacteraemia during the screening period, although a causal link cannot be established.

Published 21 February 2008 in Br J Surg, 95(3): 381-6.
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