Ann Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg.  2019 Aug;23(3):265-273. 10.14701/ahbps.2019.23.3.265.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening is important for surgeons

• Hyun IK
• Park PJ
• Park D
• Choi SB
• Han HJ
• Song TJ
• Jung CW
• Kim WB

• KMID: 2456025
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14701/ahbps.2019.23.3.265

Abstract

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS
Perioperative surgical site infection (SSI) remains a morbid complication even in successful surgical procedures. We encountered an unusual experience of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-related SSI outbreak in our hospital; therefore, we conducted an epidemiologic analysis to determine the origin of SSIs due to MRSA.
METHODS
Among 102 consecutive patients who underwent hepatobiliopancreatic operations, SSIs occurred in eight cases. Infection surveillance regarding the operative environment was carried out. We analyzed the possible risk factors for this infectious outbreak in our institution.
RESULTS
Patients with SSI tended to be older (p=0.293), had variable operation fields (p=0.020), more cancer-related operation (p=0.003), less laparoscopic surgery (p=0.007), performed in operation room 1 (p=0.004), prolonged operation time (p<0.001) and had longer hospital stays (p=0.002). After propensity score (PS) matching, there was the only significant difference in the participation of surgeon D as a second assistant (p=0.001) between the SSI and non-SSI group. After PS matching, surgeon D as a second assistant was the only significant risk factor for MRSA SSI in the univariate (p=0.001) and multivariate analysis (p=0.004, hazard ratio=25.088, 95% confidence interval=2.759-228.149).
CONCLUSIONS
Outbreak of SSIs occurred due to transmission of MRSA from a surgeon to patients despite the standard regulation of infection control. These SSIs were associated with an excessive incidence of surgeon's nasal and hand carriage of the MRSA strain identified in the surgeon via cultures. We recommend the preoperative regular nasal and hand screening for MRSA among surgeons.

Keyword

Surgical site infection; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Screening

MeSH Terms

Hand
Humans
Incidence
Infection Control
Laparoscopy
Length of Stay
Mass Screening*
Methicillin Resistance*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Multivariate Analysis
Propensity Score
Risk Factors
Surgeons*
Surgical Wound Infection

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