Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) have few structural differences, but their epidemiologies differ profoundly in terms of colonization, infection, and transmission. We compare strategies for controlling hospital infection due to MSSA and MRSA. Despite the straightforward epidemiology of MSSA, the effectiveness of screening and decolo...

The UK has seen a dramatic reduction in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection and transmission over the past few years in response to the mandatory MRSA bacteraemia surveillance scheme. Healthcare institutions have re-enforced basic infection control practice, such as universal hand hygiene, contact precautions and admission screening; however, the precipitous decline sug...

With the goal of reducing rates of surgical site infections in our spine patients, we initiated a trial to investigate the impact of adding perisurgical nasal decolonization involving patients and surgical and nursing staff. We combined immediate presurgical application of a nonantibiotic alcohol-based nasal antiseptic with existing chlorhexidine bath or wipes in a comprehensive pre- and postop...

316. Decolonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Carriers in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU): Success Rate and Risk Factors for Decolonization Failure Oh-Hyun Cho, MD; Ki-Ho Park, MD; Yu-Mi Lee, MD; Eun Hwa Baek; Mi Hui Bak; In-Gyu Bae, MD; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, South Korea...

BACKGROUND Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin resistant (MRSA), is a common pathogen among patients receiving hemodialysis. To evaluate nasal carriage, molecular characterization and effectiveness of decolonization of MRSA among patients receiving hemodialysis in Taiwan, we conducted this study. METHODS From January to June 2011, two nasal samplings with a 3-month interval were o...

INTRODUCTION Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections remain one of the leading causes of preventable patient mortality in the US. Eradication of MRSA through decolonization could prevent both MRSA infections and transmission; however, there is currently no consensus within the infectious disease community on the proper role of decolonization in the preven...

Background. MRSA is a leading cause of healthcare associated infections. Decolonizing hospitalized patients may eliminate a bacterial reservoir to reduce MRSA transmission and prevent infections. Our objective was to measure the association of colonization pressure with transmission in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to determine whether decolonization decreases MRSA transmission. M...