This letter was shown to Dr Cox and her colleagues and their reply follows:

Cox, R.A.; Conquest, C.; Mallaghan, C.; Marples, R. R.

doi:10.1016/s0195-6701(96)90171-1

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…Physician specialists may rotate among multiple institutions. Healthcare worker Nasal and hand carrier N Household contact Nasal mupirocin Decontamination of environment [151] Nurse ND Y Partner ND ND [167] Trainees inevitably circuit several educational medical settings. The literature documents several such opportunities for spread [29,31,39,57,66,80,128,130,132,199].…”

Section: Epidemiological Curiosmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of healthcare personnel in the maintenance and spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Cimolai

2008

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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Healthcare workers may acquire methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from patients, both hospital and home environments, other healthcare workers, family and public acquaintances, and pets. There is a consensus of case reports and series which now strongly support the role for MRSA-carrying healthcare personnel to serve as a reservoir and as a vehicle of spread within healthcare settings. Carriage may occur at a number of body sites and for short, intermediate, and long terms. A number of approaches have been taken to interrupt the linkage of staff-patient spread, but most emphasis has been placed on handwashing and the treatment of staff MRSA carriers. The importance of healthcare workers in transmission has been viewed with varying degrees of interest, and several logistical problems have arisen when healthcare worker screening is brought to the forefront. There is now considerable support for the screening and treatment of healthcare workers, but it is suggested that the intensity of any such approach must consider available resources, the nature of the outbreak, and the strength of epidemiological associations. The task of assessing healthcare personnel carriage in any context should be shaped with due regard to national and international guidelines, should be honed and practiced according to local needs and experience, and must be patient-oriented.

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