Abstract

A forum on healthcare-associated (HCA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) control took place at the 2007 Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases (ASID) Conference in Hobart. The aim was to highlight differing rates of MRSA morbidity across Australia and New Zealand and explore the emerging consensus about patient screening and isolation processes.Annual incidence of HCA MRSA bacteraemiae in Australia are much lower in Western Australia (WA) (1.1/100,000 population per year), Tasmania (0.6/100,000), South Australia (SA) (2.4/100,000) and Queensland (3.4/100,000) compared with Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (9.2/100,000), New South Wales (NSW) (6.3-8.7/100,000), Darwin (13.3/100,000) and Victoria (5.4-6.6/100,000). Lowest rates are associated with use of more stringent approaches to MRSA infection control as can be seen in WA and New Zealand.Conference delegates strongly supported the concept of a surveillance system that generates nationally comparable data on HCA S. aureus infections (including MRSA). A possible mechanism would be the adoption of a uniform national indicator for HCA S. aureus bloodstream infection.In terms of infection control management of MRSA, most jurisdictions appear to be moving towards more stringent approaches. Implementation of more active control in NSW and Victoria, the states with the largest burden of MRSA disease, is hindered by resource and logistic considerations and perhaps a lack of unified professional support behind such measures. However, it is likely that better control efforts would reduce patient morbidity significantly and be cost-effective.