Authors' objectives: Rapid screening tests for methicillin resistant S aureus (MRSA) allow identification in an expected turnaround time of less than 48 hours with rapid culture methods and less than 24 hours with molecular tests, in order to procure an early isolation and the right treatment to the patients. The specific objectives of this review focused on evaluating the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of rapid screening techniques for MRSA in hospitalized patients.

Authors' recommendations: This review identified 3 health technology assessment reports, 1 meta-analysis, 5 diagnostic test studies, 2 clinical trial, 1 quasiexperimental study with before-after design and 2 costeffectiveness studies. Studies of diagnostic tests verified the validity of rapid screening tests, with sensitivity between 89,7% and 100% and specificity between 85,3% and 98,7%. These tests showed greater ability to rule out the infection than to detect it. No data were statistically significant between rapid and conventional culture methods in relation to the incidence of nosocomial MRSA, with cumulative incidence rates between 1,9% and 2,8% in patients screened with rapid techniques and between 2,4% and 3,2% in those screened with conventional culture tests. Data were only significant in relation to the reduction in hours of notification of results, with rapid screening tests between 2,3 and 21,8 hours and conventional culture methods for between 46,4 hours and 3,3 days. The studies did not demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of these rapid methods. However, screening by chromogenic cultures is presented as a possible alternative to conventional culture because of its lower costs in relation with those caused by PCR, its safety, efficiency and effectiveness in reducing MRSA infection as well as decreasing time notification that it can generate.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: https://www.aetsa.org/publicacion/identificacion-rapida-de-staphylococcus-aureus-meticilina-resistente/

Year Published: 2012

URL for published report: https://www.aetsa.org/download/publicaciones/antiguas/AETSA_2011_2_5_MRSA.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Area

Contact Address: Area de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias Sanitarias de Andalucia (AETSA) Avda. Innovación, s/n Edificio Arena 1. Sevilla (Spain) Tel. +34 955 006 309

Contact Name: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Contact Email: aetsa.csalud@juntadeandalucia.es

Copyright: Andalusian Agency for Health Technology Assessment (AETSA)