Abstract
Aims: To assess the impact of ring fencing of elective orthopaedic arthroplasty patients on rates of post-operative infections including methicillin resistant staphlococ-cous aureus (MRSA). Method: For one year the rate of all postoperative infections in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty were recorded (including chest, urinary, wound etc). Patients were treated using standard precautions against infection employed in most modern orthopaedic units. The elective ward was then ring fenced; admitting only elective patients who had clear swabs for infection taken in the community. Patients of other specialities and trauma were excluded. In addition barrier nursing and infection control measures were employed. The infection rate was then recorded for one year. Results: Prior to ring fencing there were 43 post-op infections in 417 patients (9 MRSA). In the ring fenced patients there were 15 infections in 488 patients (no MRSA). Conclusions: Ring fencing elective orthopaedic beds reduced overall infection rate, eradicated MRSA and allowed 17% more joint replacements to be performed. We recommend these precautions in all orthopaedic centres.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
