Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nosocomial Acquisition and Carrier State in a Wound Care Center

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Abstract
METHICILLIN-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasingly common in hospitals worldwide and has recently spread to community populations.1,2 In 1993-1996 in French hospitals, the proportion of S aureus resistant to methicillin was 40%,3 and the infection rate was 0.45% in a recent multicenter survey.4 The high endemicity of MRSA poses a problem for drug therapy because of the possible development of resistance to glycopeptides, which could lead to untreatable infections.5 In addition, MRSA is a financial burden on the health care system.6 As this organism can spread easily from person to person, MRSA is introduced into hospitals by the admission of a patient with infection or colonization who serves as a reservoir.7 The control of MRSA requires the implementation of infection control measures, particularly inside high-risk wards, including rapid detection of MRSA by screening every patient at risk at admission, identifying MRSA carriers using specific labeling, rigorous hand washing by staff, isolation of patients with colonization and infection, and MRSA eradication, if possible, by the use of antiseptic agents.8,9