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Successful control of endemic MRSA in a cardiothoracic surgical unit
Author(s) -
Brady Lynette M.,
Thomson Maxine,
Palmer Magaret A.,
Harkness John L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1990.tb120917.x
Subject(s) - medicine , carriage , perioperative , perineum , staphylococcus aureus , antibiotics , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , infection control , colonization , cardiothoracic surgery , intensive care medicine , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , pathology , bacteria , genetics
After a substantial increase in the prevalence of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, a prospective study was undertaken in early 1986 to ascertain the carrier status of all patients entering the Unit. Of 84 patients, 27.4% were found to carry MRSA and the perineum was the major site of carriage, with 69.6% of MRSA positive cases carrying the organism in this site. As a result of these findings, the period of perioperative antibiotic cover was shortened, whole‐body washing of patients with a 1% triclosan preparation was instituted and routine postoperative perineal swabs were taken. During the 18 months after implementation of these policies, a highly significant reduction in the number of MRSA carriers and infections was observed. The monitoring of perineal colonization proved to be a useful marker for increases in MRSA in the Unit.