Following medical staff concerns about patients screening positive for meth
icillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from the hairline site only,
it was suggested that the hospital hairdresser could be a possible source
for cross-contamination. Analysis of her procedures and decontamination pra
ctices confirmed her to be a potential source. Swabbing of her equipment af
ter a day's session with her. ping as an epidemic strain normal cleansing p
ractice revealed the presence of MRSA, confirmed by phage typing as an epid
emic strain within the hospital. This provided putative evidence for a vehi
cle of transmission. A review of advice for hairdressers in hospitals was o
btained from the literature and via a telephone survey of infection control
nurses in London. A composite policy was produced for hairdressers attendi
ng MRSA-positive patients in hospital to minimize this potential risk. (C)
2001 The Hospital Infection Society.