[The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus problem: public health--rituals].

: Measures employed to control MRSA infections are frequently not proven scientifically and therefore constitute mere rituals. The German-speaking Working Group for Hospital Infection Control recommends that surgery on MRSA patients be performed in one surgical unit only at the very end of the operation program, even if this means postponing surgery to the evening or night hours. From a hygiene point of view this is unnecessary. Data presented here describe the most common modes and routes of S. aureus transmission during surgery. Other rituals during preoperative preparation, washing and disinfecting the hands or procedure after so called septic interventions, visiting the lavatory etc. are described.