Curiosities of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus survey - possibility of pseudo-outbreak and transmission to household contacts

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is currently one of the most prevalent antibiotic-resistant pathogens in hospitals, but it is also emerging as a community-acquired pathogen. We analysed the clinical and microbiological data of the patients in a county teaching hospital regarding MRSA. During the examination period (1996-2010), four outbreaks and one pseudo-outbreak occurred. It also became evident that health care workers and their families are possibly at risk of becoming carriers of MRSA. The importance of the molecular epidemiological investigation (pulsed-field gel-electrophoresis (PFGE)) typing and hygienic measures in order to detect and control MRSA outbreaks must be emphasised. Following infection control guidelines seems to be cost-effective method of controlling the nosocomial transmission of MRSA.