A new study suggests that to reduce infection rates, it's important to carefully screen healthcare workers for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in addition to taking other steps. The study, which appears in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, looked at data from 169 studies of 33,318 healthcare workers in 37 countries. It concluded that 4.6 percent of workers carried MRSA--and that of these, 5.1 percent had clinical MRSA infections. Even if staff members use sound infection-control procedures, they may still spread MRSA if they're heavily colonized by the diseases themselves, the authors note. To address this issue, provider organizations should routinely screen health workers regardless of their current health status, including pre-employment and before work shifts.

To learn more about the study:
- read this HealthDay News piece [1]

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Study: MRSA testing may not help [3]
VA program slashes MRSA infection rates [4]
Case study: NC hospital cuts MRSA rates [5]