The efficacy of preoperative screening and the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an otolaryngology surgical practice

• Published in: Otolaryngology-head and neck surgery 2009, Vol.140 (1), p.29-32
• Main Authors: Richer, Sara L., Wenig, Barry L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Chlorhexidine - therapeutic use; Female; Humans; Male; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Middle Aged; Mupirocin - therapeutic use; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Preoperative Care; Staphylococcal Infections - drug therapy; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0194-5998; 1097-6817
• DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2008.10.021

To examine the efficacy of preoperative Staphylococcus aureus screening on postoperative methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) infection rates in otolaryngology. Chart review. Postoperative MRSA infection rates in unscreened patients during a 1-year period were compared with infection rates in patients after preoperative S aureus screening was initiated. Colonized patients were treated with mupirocin and chlorhexidine preoperatively. Records of 420 patients were reviewed. In the 241 patients without screening, nine patients had S aureus infections, and there were two (0.8%) postoperative MRSA surgical-site infections. Of 179 patients after screening was initiated, 24 patients (13.4%) were colonized with S aureus and underwent preoperative treatment. There were no MRSA infections in the postoperative period. Early results show the potential benefit of preoperative S aureus screening in MRSA infection rate reduction. Although larger studies are needed, screening and treatment of MRSA colonized patients preoperatively may reduce infectious complications in otolaryngology.