The efficacy of preoperative screening and the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an otolaryngology surgical practice

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of preoperative Staphy-lococcus aureus screening on postoperative methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) infection rates in otolaryngology.

STUDY DESIGN: Chart review.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Postoperative MRSA infection rates in unscreened patients during a 1-year period were compared with infection rates in patients after preoperative S aureus screening was initiated. Colonized patients were treated with mupirocin and chlorhexidine preoperatively.

RESULTS: Records of 420 patients were reviewed. In the 241 patients without screening, nine patients had S aureus infections, and there were two (0.8%) postoperative MRSA surgical-site infections. Of 179 patients after screening was initiated, 24 patients (13.4%) were colonized with S aureus and underwent preoperative treatment. There were no MRSA infections in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSION: Early results show the potential benefit of preoperative S aureus screening in MRSA infection rate reduction. Although larger studies are needed, screening and treatment of MRSA colonized patients preoperatively may reduce infectious complications in otolaryngology.