BMJ  2004;329:538-539 (4 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7465.538

Commentary

Golden rules

¹ 28 New End Square, London NW3 1LS geoff@scileg.freeserve.co.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Few events in biology offer a more powerful demonstration of the wonders of natural selection than the spread of antibiotic resistance. Hospital staff struggling to contain the golden staph may, of course, take a more jaundiced view of its triumph.

Fortunately the microbe is not invincible. This week's review by Cooper and colleagues is a reminder that strict isolation measures can limit the spread of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).¹ In a similar vein we have the recent report of a successful attempt at eradicating the organism by "ring fencing" elective orthopaedic beds.² The consequent drop in the incidence of postoperative infection allowed surgeons to do more joint replacements. Better research is urgently needed.

The literature on infection control began with Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian physician, in the mid 19th century, and is now extensive. A review by Muto et al on behalf of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Isolation measures in the hospital management of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): systematic review of the literature

B S Cooper, S P Stone, C C Kibbler, B D Cookson, J A Roberts, G F Medley, G Duckworth, R Lai, and S Ebrahim
BMJ 2004 329: 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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