Ugeskrift for Laeger
Volume 162, Issue 46, 2000, Pages 6241-6243

The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Kosovar-Albanian refugees at Randers [Forekomst af methicillinresistent Staphylococcus aureus blandt kosova-albanske flygtninge på Flygtningecenter Randers] (Article)

Hansen B.* , Pedersen L.N. , Arpi M. , Obel N.
  • a Casper Møllers Vej 9, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark
  • b [Affiliation not available]
  • c [Affiliation not available]
  • d [Affiliation not available]

Abstract

Materials and methods: Nasal screening culture for MRSA was performed on the first 50 refugees arriving at Randers. On admission to the DHR, the Kosovar-Albanian refugees were isolated until the MRSA culture showed negative. Results: MRSA causing serious nosocomial infections has become a major problem in hospitals worldwide, with a higher incidence in the southern part of Europe than in Denmark. The initial nasal screening revealed no MRSA positive cultures. During the course of the subsequent 14 months, we found eight Kosovar-Albanian refugees infected with/colonised by MRSA (Table 1). We observed no spread of MRSA to other patient groups. Conclusion: We conclude that 1) the results of the initial screening of 50 refugees did not predict the succeding high incidence of MRSA; 2) the usual treatment with mupirocin nasal ointment and chlorhexidine wash did not prevent either reinfection or spread of MRSA in the refugee centre; 3) the rigorous isolation and screening strategy at DHR prevented the spread of MRSA to other patients and staff.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

patient care refugee Albania mass screening human Refugees Staphylococcal Infections Patient Isolation Denmark Yugoslavia ethnology Humans prevalence Incidence penicillin resistance Article disease transmission Retrospective Studies microbiology retrospective study Staphylococcus infection cross infection Methicillin Resistance
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034644991&partnerID=40&md5=e1d5beb12b70c9dde1dafd5447402eb7
ISSN: 00415782
Cited by: 2
Original Language: Danish