Lessons to learn with the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus control in Norway.

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Norway is low, compared to other European and American countries. The health system includes mandatory case reporting and has written guidelines for prevention and control. This communication describes the national public policies related to MRSA obtained from documents and academic experience gained during a doctoral fellowship in Oslo, Norway. The painstaking procedures used for investigating suspected cases, including health professionals, decolonization and case monitoring, could be important tools to be used by countries with a high prevalence of MRSA.