title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an Irish orthopaedic centre: a five-year analysis.
abstract: This prospective five-year study analyses the impact of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on an Irish orthopaedic unit. We identified 318 cases of MRSA, representing 0.76% of all admissions (41,971). A total of 240 (76%) cases were colonised with MRSA, while 120 (37.7%) were infected. Patients were admitted from home (218; 68.6%), nursing homes (72; 22.6%) and other hospitals (28; 8.8%). A total of 115 cases (36.6%) were colonised or infected on admission. Many patients were both colonised and infected at some stage. The length of hospital stay was almost trebled because of the presence of MRSA infection. Encouragingly, overall infection rates have not risen significantly over the five years of the study despite increased prevalence of MRSA. However, the financial burden of MRSA is increasing, highlighting the need for progress in understanding how to control this resistant pathogen more effectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Merlin Park Regional Hospital, Galway, Ireland. sroche1975@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents