Financial implications of plans to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in an orthopaedic department.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to calculate retrospectively the cost of MRSA infections in the elective and trauma orthopaedic population in Rotherham District General Hospital in a 3-month period during 2005.


METHODS
A total of 686 patients were admitted to the orthopaedic wards and the surgical wounds 10 patients became infected with MRSA.


RESULTS
The cost of these infections when extrapolated over 12 months was pound384,000 excluding staff costs.


CONCLUSIONS
The key in the fight against MRSA in the hospital setting is multifactorial and requires a combination of measures. Our solution is: cohort nursing; non-selective screening of all admissions to the orthopaedic wards; use of a polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic tool; ring-fencing of beds; and separate wound dressing rooms for each ward. The total cost is projected to be pound301,000.
Hassan
K
K
Department of Orthopaedics, Rotherham General Hospital Foundation Trust, Rotherham, UK. kamranhasan_4@hotmail.com
Koh
C
C
Karunaratne
D
D
Hughes
C
C
Giles
S N
SN
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004739:England; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000191:economics*; D006767:Hospitals, District / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control