title: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening in Wales: survey of practices in adult critical care units in Welsh hospitals.
abstract: Screening for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in critical care units remains a controversial issue. This cross-sectional study reviewed the MRSA screening policies in adult critical care units in Welsh hospitals. Data were collected by structured questionnaires. The study showed a degree of variability in practice from universal screening to no screening at all. It is recommended that local MRSA policies should be reviewed, bearing in mind the local prevalence of colonization and infection; and compliance with basic infection control strategies should not only be directed at MRSA infection, but also at other healthcare-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. docwolex@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Durojaiye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales