Approach to preventing postoperative S. aureus infections

Staphylococcus aureus carriage increases the risk of postoperative infection. Perioperative decolonisation of colonised patients reduces postoperative infection following specific surgical procedures.

Consider preoperative screening (for both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carriage) and decolonisation of colonised patients—see here for specific advice. In patients with known S. aureus carriage, decolonisation without screening is an alternative approach.

If a patient is colonised with MRSA, vancomycin or teicoplanin is added to the prophylactic regimen.