Abstract
AIMS: The aim of this study was to determine the risk of post-operative surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery who were colonised with MRSA. METHODS: All patients admitted for elective orthopaedic surgery from January 2008 to December 2012 were screened for MRSA. MRSA positive patients were identified and given topical suppression therapy. RESULTS: 11,567 patients were screened for MRSA. Ninety-nine (0.9%) were colonised and eighty-eight (88.9%) proceeded to surgery. Three patients (3.4%) developed post-operative superficial SSIs. Two were in patients who had total knee replacements (TKR). CONCLUSION: We conclude that patients should be informed of an increased SSI risk if colonised with MRSA pre-operatively.