title: Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among orthopedic patients at a large academic hospital.
abstract: Community-based methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contributes to postoperative surgical site infections, and it is therefore important to eliminate nasal carriage of MRSA before surgery. A total of 678 nasal swabs were performed on elective orthopedic patients undergoing surgery with the usage of metal implants. Thirty-eight specimens (5.6%) were positive for MRSA and 146 (21.5%) were positive for methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA). A slow increase in the number of MSSA was noted between 2006 and 2007. Positive cases of MRSA nasal carriage were treated with nasal mupirocin ointment and chlorhexidine baths or showers for 5 days prior to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Bennie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindeque
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McConnell
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology