Preoperative Screening and Decolonization

The use of preoperative surveillance to identify carriers of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) or methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) has been explored in the adult population. Use of preoperative nasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine baths for S aureus carriers may reduce the risk of deep SSI and is recommended as an adjunct to intravenous prophylaxis in adult cardiac and orthopedic surgery patients. Several small studies in children undergoing cardiac surgery have suggested similar benefit in using perioperative mupirocin.