Keeping epidemic MRSA out of Western Australian hospitals

Abstract

Since 1982 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated in WA has been notifiable by State legislation. During this time the WA Department of Health (DoH), which administers and sets policy for the government-funded healthcare facilities and licences all private healthcare facilities operating within the State, has promoted a comprehensive MRSA management policy. This policy, which involves all WA healthcare facilities, medical microbiology laboratories and the DoH, is similar to the ‘search and destroy policy’ used in northern Europe 1 and involves selective screening, isolation and decolonisation. The objective of the policy is the early identification, containment and eradication of MRSA infection and colonisation, primarily targeting EMRSA strains in WA acute care hospitals.