Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Disappeared in the Gastroenterologic Surgery -A 2-year Study-

Junichi Yoshida^{1) 2)}, Syoji Kuroki¹⁾, Kenichi Matsuo²⁾, Shinichi Ikeda²⁾, Masao Tanaka¹⁾

Department of Surgery I¹⁾, Kuyshu University Hospital and Department of Surgery²⁾, Shimonoseki City Hospital

Large hospitals in Japan are plagued with methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Our ward has been undertaking basic measures against infection. We therefore analyzed a total of 1,408 strains of bacteria isolated from gastroenterologic surgery patients from January 1994 to December 1995. Throughout the period patients were instructed to gargle an iodine disinfectant, which was also applied nasally, for one week preoperatively. The round proceeded from postoperative patients, to stable ones, to those isolated for being positive for MRSA. Statistically the piecewise linear regression was used for the numbers of patients with MRSA, Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis. The results showed that the incidence of Candida increased from January 1995 but the incidence of the remaining three microbes decreased. The incidence of MRSA had a rate of 6.1% (55/908 isolates) in 1994 but 0% (0/500 isolates) in 1995. The incidence of Candida was 5.0% (45 isolates) and 5.8% (29 isolates) respectively. The isolation of MRSA in our Department ceased due likely to basic measures against infection such as the preoperative treatment of the upper airway.

Key words
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococci

Reprint requests
Junichi Yoshida Department of Surgery, City Hospital
1-13-1 Koyo-cho, Shimonoseki, 750 JAPAN

Accepted
October 9, 1996

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