Authors' recommendations: At the present time, the evidence for screening for MRSA in a hospital setting is inconclusive. In the absence of other preventive measures, hospitals may choose to try screening in order to control the spread and incidence of MRSA infection in their facilities. A surveillance system should be in place to monitor changes in incidence of MRSA infection before and after the institution of a screening program. Target populations for screening may be based on high risk groups identified in guidelines or the literature, as well as local characteristics of MRSA infection. The reviewed literature suggests that some practitioners choose to have their MRSA-positive patients start decolonization procedures about a week prior to elective surgery, a process that lasts approximately five days. Further study of the efficacy of MRSA screening and of the efficacy of decolonization procedures is needed.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/L0106_Pre-op_MRSA_Screening.pdf

Year Published: 2009

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)