Conflicting Evidence on Value of Screening for MRSA

Conclusions from a U.S. study are exactly opposite of those from a recent European study.

Nosocomial infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is becoming a worldwide problem. In a recent European study, researchers concluded that universal screening of hospital admissions was ineffective for lowering infection rates (Journal Watch Mar 11 2008). Now a U.S. study comes to the opposite conclusion.

Researchers implemented the MRSA screening for patients who were admitted to three Chicago-area hospitals in two phases: During one 12-month period, all patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit were screened with a rapid PCR-based assay; during a subsequent 19-month period, all admitted patients were screened. Colonized patients were treated with contact isolation during hospitalization; eradication of…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose