[The importance of MRSA in patient care. Epidemiology, prevention and therapy]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has for several years been increasingly spreading at inpatient and outpatient health care facilities. This constitutes a great epidemiological problem. Measures are needed for MRSA management, including screening, hygiene, containment, and sanitation as well as for a stricter control of antibiotic use. In order to be able to monitor and assess the MRSA problem in the future, there are surveillance systems which can provide approaches for continuously improving MRSA management and thus offer a long-term solution. In this context, regional networks for implementing MRSA prevention strategies are of particular importance. Their goal is reducing MRSA-caused infections in an area and stop circulation of MRSA between the various health care facilities. For the management of MRSA infections, interdisciplinary cooperation between the attending orthopedic specialist and the clinical microbiologist is very important for planning an effective treatment regimen to ensure a successful outcome, particularly in view of the growing shortage of resources in the healthcare system.