Ring fencing of hospital wards and simple infection control measures can eradicate MRSA in patients having planned operations and allow more patients to be treated, show researchers in the recent issue of 

Their study involved all patients undergoing elective hip or knee replacement at Broomfield Hospital in Essex. In April 1998, all orthopedic surgery was centralized to this hospital from a dedicated stand-alone orthopedic hospital. Twenty-nine new cases of MRSA occurred in the first year after the move.

For one year, rates of postoperative infections were recorded. Then in July 2000, the 28 beds in the elective orthopedic ward were "ring fenced." Only patients having elective orthopedic surgery were admitted to the ward and infection control measures were rigorously enforced.

These measures led to a significant decrease in all postoperative infections and also allowed 17 percent more patients to be treated without increasing the number of operating lists, beds, or surgeons. No cases of MRSA occurred after ring fencing.

"We strongly recommend the ring fencing of elective orthopedic patients and simple infection control measures to reduce the risk of postoperative infection and allow an increase in the number of patients treated," conclude the authors.

http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/july/qi149.pdf

Reference: Eradication of methicillin-resistant 

 by "ring fencing" of elective orthopaedic beds, BMJ Volume 329, pp.149-151.

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 operating room page provides news articles and videos on the intersection between surgery and infection prevention. The operating room is a prime breeding ground for harmful pathogens to spread, resulting in surgical site infections. The role of the infection preventionist, together with the perioperative nursing staff, is to craft policies and processes to cut down on these infections and ensure patient safety during surgical procedures. 

Simple Measures Can Eradicate MRSA