Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection - the infectious stigma of our time?

The article discusses ethical aspects related to isolation of patients with infectious diseases. The empirical basis is a textual analysis of two national guidelines on prevention of spreading of patients with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The analysis shows that even though both documents are founded upon updated scientific evidence on epidemiology and infectious diseases they lack explicit ethical argumentation on several aspects relevant for treatment and care under isolation or other constraints. Presuming that written guidelines make important frames for reflection and learning among practitioners, the authors suggest that such guidelines not just in Scandinavia but internationally should show how ethical considerations can be included into the individual risk assessments concerning patients under isolation. (C) 2010 The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.