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Updated: Apr 23, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Surgical site infection risk following pre-operative MRSA detection in elective orthopaedic surgery
Ahsan Akhtar1, Haji Kadir1, Prakash Chandran1
1Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington WA5 1QG, UK.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to determine the risk of post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery who were colonised with MRSA.
Methods:
All patients admitted for elective orthopaedic surgery from January 2008 to December 2012 were screened for MRSA. MRSA positive patients were identified and given topical suppression therapy.
Results:
11,567 patients were screened for MRSA. Ninety-nine (0.9%) were colonised and eighty-eight (88.9%) proceeded to surgery. Three patients (3.4%) developed post-operative superficial SSIs. Two were in patients who had total knee replacements (TKR).
Conclusion:
We conclude that patients should be informed of an increased SSI risk if colonised with MRSA pre-operatively.
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