title: The facts about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: 1. Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive organism that can be cultured from the anterior nares of 30% to 40% of the general population. S aureus causes about 10% of all nosocomial infections, and is the leading cause of surgical wound infections. 2. Several factors can influence the recovery of MRSA from specimens, including mixed cultures in the person, a person who is an intermittent carrier, and a culture that is taken or transported incorrectly. 3. Two approaches can be used to reduce the risk of cross-transmission of organisms among patients and health-care workers: a generic infection precautions strategy for all patients, and identifying patients infected or colonized with MRSA and treating them differently than other patients.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*