To screen or not to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Lance R Peterson; Daniel J Diekema

doi:10.1128/JCM.02516-09

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To screen or not to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

To screen or not to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Lance R Peterson and Daniel J Diekema

Journal of clinical microbiology, Vol.48(3), pp.683-689

03/2010

DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02516-09

PMID: 20071548

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Abstract

There are few more compelling questions in clinical microbiology today than the issue of whether or not to screen for the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with the results being used to institute infection control interventions aimed at preventing transmission of MRSA in health care environments. Numerous different matters must be addressed when considering a screening program. Who is to be screened, what method is to be employed to detect MRSA, and what sites should be sampled? When and how often should the screening be performed? Who is going to pay for the screening, and, finally and perhaps most importantly, how are screening results to be communicated to health care providers and what kind of interventions are best undertaken based on the results? Numerous governmental agencies have mandated MRSA screening programs, and yet several authorities in infection control organizations have questioned the appropriateness of mandated screening. In this Point-Counterpoint feature, Dr. Lance Peterson of Evanston Hospital (Evanston, IL) offers his perspective on why screening for MRSA is to be encouraged. Dr. Daniel Diekema of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (Iowa City, IA) offers an opposing view.

Staphylococcal Infections - diagnosis

Mass Screening

Cross Infection - prevention & control

Humans

Carrier State - microbiology

Cross Infection - diagnosis

Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification

Infection Control - methods

Details

Title: Subtitle: To screen or not to screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Creators: Lance R Peterson - NorthShore University HealthSystem, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, 2650 Ridge Avenue, Walgreen Bldg., SB525, Evanston, IL 60201, USA. lance1@uchicago.edu
Daniel J Diekema
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of clinical microbiology, Vol.48(3), pp.683-689
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02516-09
PMID: 20071548
NLM abbreviation: J Clin Microbiol
ISSN: 0095-1137
eISSN: 1098-660X
Publisher: United States
Language: English
Date published: 03/2010
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Pathology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983986364502771

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