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Published on: April 9, 2013

New approaches to prevention of staphylococcal infection in surgery

Miranda Ml van Rijen1, Jan A J W Kluytmans

  • 1Laboratory for Microbiology and Infection Control, Amphia Hospital, Breda, The Netherlands. mvrijen@amphia.nl

Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|July 3, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Topical mupirocin treatment effectively prevents Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infections in nasal carriers. This screen-and-treat strategy is cost-effective when mupirocin resistance remains low.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Disease
  • Surgical Site Infections
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by Staphylococcus aureus are a significant concern.
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a particular challenge in healthcare settings.
  • Preventive strategies are crucial to reduce the burden of these infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize literature on preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections in surgical patients.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of different decolonization and prophylaxis methods.
  • To provide perspective on current prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies published between August 2006 and January 2008.
  • Analysis of methods including isolation precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and topical decolonization.
  • Evaluation of outcomes related to Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA infections.

Main Results:

  • Topical decolonization with mupirocin reduced Staphylococcus aureus SSIs in nasal carriers.
  • Vancomycin prophylaxis was considered for high-risk MRSA patients.
  • Chlorhexidine gluconate reduced overall nosocomial infections but not specifically S. aureus infections.

Conclusions:

  • Mupirocin treatment of S. aureus carriers is effective in preventing nosocomial SSIs.
  • Screen-and-treat approaches are cost-saving if mupirocin resistance is low.
  • Further research is needed on chlorhexidine's effect on S. aureus carrier rates.

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