Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening in obstetrics: a review

Universal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) screening of adults admitted to hospital is being introduced in England. Routine obstetric patients are currently exempt from screening, but 'high risk' cases and women undergoing elective caesarean sections need to be included in the screening programme. Most recent data on MRSA in obstetrics are derived from the USA, and provide little evidence that either universal or targeted screening is beneficial for mothers or babies. The epidemiology of MRSA in the USA, however, where community-associated MRSA strains are much more prevalent, is different from that in the UK. This article reviews current knowledge of MRSA screening in pregnancy and makes recommendations for current practice and future research.