title: A survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) management in hospices/palliative care units.
abstract: A questionnaire-based survey was performed of the protocols adopted by specialist palliative care in-patient units in southern England for the management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). An 87% response rate was obtained from a total of 63 units. Ninety-five percent of the responding units had a protocol for MRSA management, but staff training in its contents was provided in only 59%. Some form of screening for MRSA was carried out by 13% of units. Infection control precautions taken varied between units and according to whether a patient was colonized or infected with MRSA. Although 86% carried out some form of isolation of patients with known or suspected MRSA infection, only 46% restricted their activity within the unit. However, 41 % of respondents felt that protocols to eradicate MRSA colonization were not relevant to hospices. The impact of MRSA infection or colonization on a palliative care population in terms of quality of life and morbidity remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: St Christopher's Hospice, London. paulinednd@aol.com
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dand
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fyvie
authors.forename: Alethea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sykes
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires