Outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Norwegian hospital

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) occurred sporadically in Norwegian hospitals in the 1960s and 1970s, but disappeared in the late 19 70s for unknown reasons. Only 1 outbreak has subsequently been reported. We describe herein a second outbreak in a different hospital, this time featu ring a more resistant strain. Staff and patients were screened immediately after detection of the first MRSA isolate. Colonized and infected patients were nursed using contact precautions, and the staff were not allowed to wo rk until 3 nose samples were MRSA-negative. We treated colonized persons wi th topical administration of mupirocin to the nostrils and a chlorhexidine body wash. The outbreak affected 7 patients and 5 healthcare workers. Pulse d-field gel electrophoresis proved all isolates to be of the same type, and the MRSA phage type was M3. There was no sign of transmission of MRSA afte r contact precautions were implemented. MRSA was eradicated in 4 of the pat ients and all 5 healthcare workers. One patient died and 1 was still coloni zed 3 y after onset of the outbreak. Contact precautions proved to be suffi cient to prevent transmission of MRSA.