Contact Precautions for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Are They Still Valuable?

Guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee recommend the use of contact precautions to prevent the transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in acute-care facilities. The merits of these recommendations are debated because it is not clear that contact precautions are essential for the control of this drug-resistant bacterium. Also, contact precautions are resource-intensive and may be detrimental to patient well-being. Recent studies have demonstrated that horizontal measures, such as improved hand hygiene compliance and chlorhexidine body washing, may be effective alternatives to contact precautions. Thus, some institutional leaders are questioning whether contact precautions for methicillin-resistant S. aureus are still of value to their hospital or health care venue. This review examines the literature regarding the use of contact precautions for methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The uncertainties about contact precaution measures and alternative approaches to methicillin-resistant S. aureus control are highlighted.