How often do asymptomatic healthcare workers cause methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreaks? A systematic evaluation.
A systematic search was performed to identify outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and colonization caused by healthcare workers (HCWs). Of 191 outbreaks identified, 11 had strong epidemiological evidence that HCWs were the source. In 3 of these outbreaks, asymptomatic carriers were the cause. The frequent practice of screening asymptomatic HCWs should be reconsidered.
Vonberg
Ralf-Peter
RP
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany. Vonberg.Ralf@MH-Hannover.DE
Stamm-Balderjahn
Sabine
S
Hansen
Sonja
S
Zuschneid
Irina
I
Ruden
Henning
H
Behnke
Michael
M
Gastmeier
Petra
P
D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000635:transmission*