Characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in patients on admission to a teaching hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The occurrence of MRSA colonization was very low, and only 1 patient from cardiac surgery developed an infection, which was caused by an SCCmec II/USA100/ST5 isolate. Screening for MRSA colonization on admission does not seem to be productive; however, for populations submitted to specific surgeries, active surveillance should be implemented.