title: Surgical site infection risk following pre-operative MRSA detection in elective orthopaedic surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the risk of post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery who were colonised with MRSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients admitted for elective orthopaedic surgery from January 2008 to December 2012 were screened for MRSA. MRSA positive patients were identified and given topical suppression therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  11,567 patients were screened for MRSA. Ninety-nine (0.9%) were colonised and eighty-eight (88.9%) proceeded to surgery. Three patients (3.4%) developed post-operative superficial SSIs. Two were in patients who had total knee replacements (TKR).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that patients should be informed of an increased SSI risk if colonised with MRSA pre-operatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington WA5 1QG, UK.
authors.forename: Ahsan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington WA5 1QG, UK.
authors.forename: Haji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadir
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Warrington WA5 1QG, UK.
authors.forename: Prakash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chandran
keywords: MRSA; Surgical site infection; elective orthopaedic patients