Value of pre- and postoperative meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening in patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery

Summary Background Data supporting active surveillance of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for the prevention of postoperative infection remain controversial. Aim To investigate the efficacy of MRSA screening in patients undergoing gastroenterological surgery. Method Nasal carriage of MRSA was screened using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on two gastroenterological surgery wards (A and B). Occurrence of postoperative MRSA infection was analysed according to nasal MRSA carriage status (pre-operative carriage and postoperative acquisition). Findings The incidence of pre-operative MRSA carriage was 9.7% on Ward A and 4.3% on Ward B ( P = 0.009). Postoperative nasal MRSA acquisition was confirmed in 16.2% and 6.0% of patients, respectively ( P