Does methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have a significant role in the peri-operative course of patients undergoing rhinological surgery?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are becoming an increasing problem, but the link with symptomatic sino-nasal infection has not previously been quantified. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in patients undergoing sino-nasal surgery. DESIGN: A retrospective study of case notes. SETTING: A district general hospital. PATIENTS One hundred and fifty-one adult patients undergoing in-patient endonasal surgery over a 12-month period were considered for the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Swab results from pre-operative screening and from any intra- and post-operative samples of infective mucopus. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-one patients undergoing endonasal surgery were included. All patients had pre-operative nasal swabs taken. Twenty-five patients had peri-operative microbiology samples taken. Only one middle meatal swab was found to contain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. No patients had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detected on pre-operative screening. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common organism detected. CONCLUSION: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection does not represent a significant source of morbidity in our practice.