Outbreak column 14: Staphylococcus aureus - new outbreaks of old infections

摘要

Outbreak Columns 12 and 13 provided an overview of historical nosocomial Staphyloeoceus aureus outbreaks, and reviewed the guidance designed to control both outbreaks and resistant epidemic strains (Curran, 2014a,b). Still with a focus on outbreaks of S. aureus, Outbreak Column 14 seeks to bring the reader up to date. Specifically, it will be looking at the epidemiology of outbreaks of nosocomial S. aureus, both meticillin resistant (MRSA) and meticillin sensitive (MSSA), in work published between 2010 and 2013. Where relevant, the findings will be compared to a review of 47 outbreaks published in a seminal work by Williams (1959). The aim is to identify salient points that infection prevention and control teams (IPCTs) should be mindful of in order to best prevent, prepare for and manage similar outbreaks in today's changed and changing healthcare systems.