Evaluation of staphylococcus aureus eradication therapy in orthopaedic surgery

Introduction Carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin resistant (MRSA), have an increased risk for health-care associated infections. Despite WHO recommendations there is currently no national screening and eradication policy for the detection of MSSA in the UK or USA. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of current standard MRSA eradication therapies in the context of S. aureus decolonisation prior to joint replacement surgery. Methods Pre-operative PCR nasal screening was performed in 273 Orthopaedic patients awaiting joint replacement surgery. In all 100 patients were positive for S. aureus and enrolled into the study. All enrolled patients received and were instructed to administer the decolonisation regimen for five days. Prior to commencement of the eradication therapy swabs of the anterior nares, throat, and perineum were taken for culture. Further culture swabs were taken at; 48–96 hours after completion of the five-day eradication regimen, at ...