title: Hospital hairdresser as a potential source of cross-infection with MRSA.
abstract: Following medical staff concerns about patients screening positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from the hairline site only, it was suggested that the hospital hairdresser could be a possible source for cross-contamination. Analysis of her procedures and decontamination practices confirmed her to be a potential source. Swabbing of her equipment after a day's session with her normal cleansing practice revealed the presence of MRSA, confirmed by phage typing as an epidemic strain within the hospital. This provided putative evidence for a vehicle of transmission. A review of advice for hairdressers in hospitals was obtained from the literature and via a telephone survey of infection control nurses in London. A composite policy was produced for hairdressers attending MRSA-positive patients in hospital to minimize this potential risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Infection Control, North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruddy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cummins
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Drabu
mesh_terms: D001461:Barbering; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006201:Hair Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006756:Hospital Shops; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008131:London; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control