The Prevalence of MRSA Nasal Carriage in Preoperative Pediatric Orthopaedic Patients

Abstract EN

Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been described as a risk factor for postsurgical infection.

The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of MRSA in pediatric orthopaedic patients and whether being a MRSA carrier is a predictor of postoperative infection.

Six hundred and ninety-nine consecutive pediatric patients who underwent MRSA nasal screening prior to surgery were studied.

Postoperative cultures, total surgical site infections (SSIs), and epidemiological and surgical prophylaxis data were reviewed.

Forty-four of 699 patients (6.29%) screened positive for MRSA.

Nine of the 44 patients (20.5%) that screened positive for MRSA had a subsequent SSI compared to 10 of the 655 patients (1.52%) that screened negative ( p < 0.05 ).

All 9 patients with a SSI had myelomeningocele.

The prevalence of MRSA was 6.30% and was predictive of postoperative infection.

Children with myelomeningocele were at the highest risk for having a positive MRSA screening and developing SSI.