We examined rates of MRSA wound infection in patients admitted to the Leicester Royal Infirmary Trauma Unit between January 2004 and June 2006. The influence of MRSA status at the time of their admission, together with age, sex and diagnosis were examined using multivariant analysis.

3.2%(79/2473)) were MRSA carriers at time of admission and 96.8%(2394/2473) were MRSA negative. Those carrying MRSA at the time of admission were more likely to develop MRSA surgical site infections [8.8% (7/79)] as compared to non MRSA carrier at the time of admission [2.2% (54/2394), p< 0.001]. Further analysis revealed that hip fracture and increasing age (linear increase in relative risk of 1.8% per year) were also risk factors.

MRSA carriage at admission, age and pathology are all associated with an increased rate of developing MRSA wound infections. Identification of such risk factors at admission helps to target health care resources such as the use of glycopeptides at induction and increased vigilance for wound infection in the post operative phase