Reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) patient exposure by infection control measures

To assess the effectiveness of infection control measures (pre-admission screening and patient segregation) on reducing in-patient exposure to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

A prospective case-control study in a district general hospital. All admissions to 3 wards over an 83-month period from September 1995 to July 2002 inclusive (a total of approximately 34,000 patients). Outcome measures were a statistical analysis of the difference in numbers of new cases of MRSA colonisation or infection between the 3 wards.

There was a statistical significance in incidence of new MRSA cases between the ward with active infection control measures in place and the control wards.

The described infection control measures reduced the exposure of patients to MRSA. This reduces the risk of MRSA infection, which is of importance in orthopaedics, and has further benefits that may also be applied in other surgical specialties.