Save A Person's Life. MRSA Screen Before the Knife.

Abstract

This literature review discusses the need for MRSA screenings prior to surgery and the use of personal protective equipment in order to reduce hospital acquired MRSA. It is not common to perform nasal swabs to test surgical patients for MRSA before procedures. When searching for literature, only publications within the past five years were considered. Four peer reviewed journals and one nursing article were analyzed and used for these findings. The studies within the literature provide evidence that certain procedures such as cardiac or vascular procedures as well as orthopedic surgeries are at increased risk for MRSA infections. A randomized controlled trial found that proper PPE and MRSA screenings on admission reduced hospital acquired infections by 63%. Ultimately, the research recommends MRSA screenings before various surgeries as well as hospital staff members wearing personal protective equipment to reduce hospital acquired MRSA.