Author/Editor		Žohar-Čretnik, Tjaša
Title		Problem širjenja proti meticilinu odpornega Staphylococcus aureus
Type		članek
Source		In: Dragaš AZ, Lorenčič-Robnik S, Kotnik-Kevorkijan B, editors. Zbornik predavanj Bolnišnične okužbe; 1999 maj 21-22; Maribor. Maribor: Splošna bolnišnica Maribor,
Publication year		1999
Volume		str. 167-80
Language		slo
Abstract		Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major nosocomial pathogen. The biggest proportion of epidemics of nosocomial infections all over the world are caused by MRSA. Its prevalence is increasing continually in the majority of countries. The importance of preventive measures such as hand hygiene, isolation precautions and prudent use of antibiotics are well known, so this article addresses some other but not less important questions like community acquired MRSA infections, carriage of MRSA, importance and sensitivity of screening cultures taken from patients and healthcare workers, importance of decolonisation procedures and also undesired effects which do appear during implementation of preventive measures. There are few data about community acquired MRSA infections. Outbreaks have been reported among intravenous drug abusers and in nursing homes. MRSA carriers with no previous contact with the hospital environment are rare. MRSA carriage can persist several years and is clearly associated with increased risk of developing MRSA infection. Carriage can be detected by the screening cultures taken from the patients and healthcare workers. The sensitivity of detection is affected by the methods used to process the screening swabs in the laboratory and by the choice of sampling sites. An attempt to eradicate colonization should be made during epidemic, in patients with repeating MRSA infections and in special groups of patients (those on hemodialysis, CAPD, with intravascular catheters, with HIV infection and those undergoing major surgical procedures). On the other hand management of colonized healthcare workers is a complex issue which requires besides decolonisation procedures also education, care and support. Special attention should also be paid to isolated patients who may sufferfrom depression, whose rehabilitation is hampered and sufferfrom all complications related to inevitably increased length of stay.
Descriptors		STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS METHICILLIN RESISTANCE STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTIONS CROSS INFECTION SPECIMEN HANDLING CULTURE MEDIA, CONDITIONED