Hospital based clearance of patients with skin and soft tissue methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A systematic review of the literature

Current literature utilising SSTI MRSA clearance process delivers no irrefutable recommendations or guidelines for consistent and effective SSTI MRSA clearance procedures. The Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare [2] provides guidelines for the processes involved in patient MRSA clearance and discontinuing contact precautions (CP), however there is variability within individual Australian State interpretation of the guidelines and State managed infection control practices. To reduce cost associated with CP and prevent adverse events for patients, further studies are required to identify best practice in regards to SSTI MRSA clearance techniques, such as the swabbing process or the scheduling of the swabs.