The efficacy of preoperative screening and the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an otolaryngology surgical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the efficacy of preoperative Staphylococcus aureus screening on postoperative methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) infection rates in otolaryngology.


METHODS
Chart review.


METHODS
Postoperative MRSA infection rates in unscreened patients during a 1-year period were compared with infection rates in patients after preoperative S aureus screening was initiated. Colonized patients were treated with mupirocin and chlorhexidine preoperatively.


RESULTS
Records of 420 patients were reviewed. In the 241 patients without screening, nine patients had S aureus infections, and there were two (0.8%) postoperative MRSA surgical-site infections. Of 179 patients after screening was initiated, 24 patients (13.4%) were colonized with S aureus and underwent preoperative treatment. There were no MRSA infections in the postoperative period.


CONCLUSIONS
Early results show the potential benefit of preoperative S aureus screening in MRSA infection rate reduction. Although larger studies are needed, screening and treatment of MRSA colonized patients preoperatively may reduce infectious complications in otolaryngology.
Richer
Sara L
SL
Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA. sara.richer@gmail.com
Wenig
Barry L
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D016712:Mupirocin; D002710:Chlorhexidine