MRSA screening in ambulatory upper limb trauma day cases

Aims: Approximately 3% of the UK population are carriers for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The NHS set a target of reducing MRSA nosocomial infections by 20% in 2012/13. The Department of Health instigated mandatory universal screening for elective and trauma surgery at significant cost and increased resource demand. Patients presenting to our service with simple upper limb trauma requiring day case surgical intervention are included in mandatory universal MRSA screening, despite being discharged post-operatively before any screening result is known. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of mandatory screening in our patient cohort. Methods: We undertook a retrospective audit of 500 consecutive day case upper limb trauma cases that were managed in our hand unit between 1 May and 31 October 2011. Patient demographics, injury, operative intervention, pre-operative MRSA screening result and post-operative wound swab results were examined. Patients with frankly infective...