7 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 1 9
T
o grasp the importance of preventing methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in joint replace-
ment patients, consider what happens if the bacteria
found on skin and in nares flakes into an open surgical
wound and forms an antibiotic-resistant biofilm on the
implant your surgeon just placed.
The surgeon must reopen the joint to remove the infected implant
and place a temporary spacer in its place, subject the patient to a 6-
week course of antibiotics and perform yet another procedure 2 to 3
Mike Morsch | Associate Editor
5 Ways to Minimize MRSA Risks
Take these proactive steps to prevent the
common cause of joint replacement infections.
• WIPE OUT Treating the skin around the surgical site with a topical chlorhexidine gluconate solution is part of a multifaceted
approach to preventing S. aureus infection.
Saint
Francis
Healthcare/Trinity
Health
