The success of routine MRSA screening in vascular surgery: a nine year review

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in vascular patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We investigated whether routine MRSA screening reduced complications related to MRSA infection.

Data was analysed for all MRSA positive (+ve) vascular patients admitted before (1996-2000) and after (2001-2004) routine MRSA screening was introduced. Outcome measures compared included wound infection, major limb amputation and mortality rates.

There were 92 and 188 MRSA +ve patients in the pre- and postscreening periods, respectively. After the introduction of MRSA screening, MRSA wound infection in MRSA +ve elective admissions was significantly reduced from 55.6% (20/36) to 22.4% (15/67), (P=0.002, chi2 test); amputations were reduced from 27.8% (10/36) to 9% (6/67), P value 0.026, and mortality from 16.7% (6/36) to 9% (6/67), P value >0.05. In MRSA +ve emergency admissions wound infection was significantly reduced from 62.5% (35/56) to 43.8% (53/121), P value 0.042, amputations from 50% (28/56) to 38.8% (47/121), P value 0.26, and mortality from 25% (14/56) to 12.4% (15/121), P value 0.067.

While the incidence of MRSA infection continues to rise, we have successfully demonstrated that MRSA screening identifies patients at risk of serious complications and is associated with a reduction in these complications following both elective and emergency surgery. Routine screening of all vascular admissions should be part of the strategy to combat MRSA infection.