Screening for meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): who, when, and how?

Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains one of the foremost nosocomial pathogens. The changing epidemiology and microbiology of MRSA worldwide provides an important context for decision making with regard to infection prevention and control. MRSA can be categorised as hospital associated, community onset, community associated, or livestock associated. This article concentrates on hospital associated MRSA, although both community associated and livestock associated MRSA are important emergent threats.