title: "Bringing down the flag": removing the contact precautions label for non-hospitalized patients with prior methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection or colonization.
abstract: A policy consensus has not been reached regarding discontinuing contact precautions in patients with a history of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). We found that as many as 72% of outpatients flagged for past MRSA were no longer carriers, and a single nasal PCR test provided a reasonable negative predictive value for removing contact precautions.
authors.affiliation: 1North Dakota State University,Master of Public Health Program,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: 1North Dakota State University,Master of Public Health Program,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Mallory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Danford
authors.affiliation: 2Sanford Health,Fargo,Department of Infectious Disease,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: 2Sanford Health,Fargo,Department of Infectious Disease,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanish
authors.affiliation: 2Sanford Health,Fargo,Department of Infectious Disease,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Jody
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: 1North Dakota State University,Master of Public Health Program,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.affiliation: 3University of North Dakota School of Medicine,Department of Medicine,Grand Forks,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traynor
authors.affiliation: 2Sanford Health,Fargo,Department of Infectious Disease,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.affiliation: 2Sanford Health,Fargo,Department of Infectious Disease,Fargo,North Dakota.
authors.forename: Dubert
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guerrero
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*