title: Epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: controlling the spread outside hospital.
abstract: Over a 21-month period an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection occurred in east Northamptonshire. The outbreak was caused by a novel phage-type (EMRSA-16) and affected 400 patients. It was centred on three hospitals but spread was also detected in the community, particularly among clients of nursing and residential homes. Three hundred and fifty residents in 15 care homes were screened for MRSA. Cross-infection of MRSA was demonstrated in 14 patients in six different homes. A key aspect of the overall containment of the outbreak was the implementation of infection control measures in the community, together with treatment and screening of known positive patients following their discharge from hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kettering General Hospital, Northamptonshire, UK.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallaghan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conquest
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012112:Residential Facilities; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification