Screening for MSRA Using PCR

Compared with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus infections, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections are associated with higher mortality, morbidity, and costs. Thus, preventing MRSA acquisition is a top priority at many hospitals. One preventive approach is screening at admission for MRSA using rapid PCR testing, which can detect MRSA within 1 day, as opposed to the 2 to 3 days necessary for conventional cultures; earlier detection could lead to earlier implementation of control measures (e.g., strict isolation). In this trial, investigators assessed whether universal screening with rapid PCR testing leads to lower MRSA acquisition rates among hospitalized patients.

Ten wards at a London hospital were randomized to provid…