Preoperative management: Staphylococcus aureus decolonisation
Hamilton T., Alvand A., Price A.
In the adult population colonisation with S. aureus is common and whilst the majority of colonised individuals are asymptomatic it presents a higher risk of invasive infection. This is particularly true in individuals undergoing knee replacement where nasal carriage of S. aureus has been reported to be one of the most important risk factors for developing surgical site infection with S. aureus. Screening and decolonisation can address nasal and extra-nasal sites and can be delivered in a targeted or universal manner. Based on case series preoperative screening and decolonisation significantly reduces the risk of both superficial and deep infections following hip and knee replacement.