(March 17, 2008 - Insidermedicine) MRSA has a high likelihood of being involved in surgical wound infections following facial plastic surgery according to research published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Here are some precautions for preventing transmission of multiple drug-resistant organisms from the CDC:

•    Follow Standard Precautions during all patient encounters in all settings in which healthcare is delivered.

•    Use masks when performing splash-generating procedures; when caring for patients with open tracheostomies and the potential for projectile secretions; and in circumstances where there is evidence of transmission from heavily colonized sources.

•    In acute-care hospitals, use Contact Precautions routinely for all patients infected with target multiple drug-resistant organisms and for patients that have been previously identified as being colonized with target multiple drug-resistant organisms.

Researchers out of Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital and New York University School of Medicine reviewed the charts of 780 patients who had undergone facelift surgery between 2001 and 2007.

Among these patients, five developed surgical site infection; 4 of these infections, or 80%, tested positive for MRSA. Two of the four patients with MRSA infections had potential exposure to the pathogen before surgery. The overall prevalence of MRSA infections was 0.5%.

Today's research highlights the significant role that MRSA plays in surgical wound infections following facelift surgery. Surgeons performing such procedures should take care to prevent infections from occurring and have a high index of suspicion for involvement of this pathogen when postsurgical infections do occur.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Essie Heinrich.