Isolation may reduce spread of MRSA

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7465.0

BMJ 2004;329 (4 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7465.0

Isolation may reduce spread of MRSA

Intensive control measures, including isolation, may reduceMRSA colonisation among hospital patients. Reviewing 46 studies,Cooper and colleagues (p 533) found evidence supporting isolationand other concerted efforts to reduce MRSA colonisation andinfection, but the quality of the studies was poor. We shouldcontinue to use isolation measures, say the authors, but weaknessesin published research mean that alternative explanations forthe reduction of MRSA cannot be excluded. The emergence of glycopeptideresistant strains calls for better research on control measures.