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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Prevalence of MRSA in elective day case pediatric ENT surgical patients

Peter J Robb1, Justin Bendig

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG, UK. peter.robb@esth.nhs.uk

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
|October 26, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Preoperative screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in children undergoing ENT surgery is not necessary, as carriage rates are very low. This study supports current UK policy excluding these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health Policy
  • Pediatric Surgery

Background:

  • Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
  • Current health policy in England and Wales mandates routine preoperative MRSA screening.
  • Children undergoing elective Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgery are currently exempt from this screening policy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate the prevalence of MRSA carriage in children admitted for elective ENT surgery.
  • To assess the appropriateness of the current policy excluding pediatric ENT surgical patients from routine MRSA screening.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study was conducted.
  • 348 pre-operative children scheduled for routine ENT operations were screened for MRSA carriage.

Main Results:

  • Bacteriological evidence of MRSA was identified in only one out of 348 children tested.
  • This represents a very low carriage rate of MRSA in this specific pediatric surgical population.

Conclusions:

  • The study findings support the existing policy of not routinely screening children undergoing elective ENT surgery for MRSA.
  • The low prevalence of MRSA in this cohort has implications for public health policy in other countries considering similar screening protocols.

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