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Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume, Vol 88-B, Issue 4, 541-542.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.88B4.17454  
Copyright © 2006 by British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery
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Can pre-operative skin marking transfer methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between patients?

A LABORATORY EXPERIMENT

J. Wilson, MB BS, Senior House Officer, Orthopaedics1; and D. Tate, MB BS, SpR Microbiology2

1 Department of Orthopaedics
2 Department of Microbiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, upon Tyne NHS Trust, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Dr J. Wilson at 33 Derwentdale Gardens, High Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE7 7QN, UK; e-mail: jdwilson{at}iv2278.freeserve.co.uk

National guidelines state that in patients undergoing operations the site of the procedure should be marked. In clinical practice the same marker is used repeatedly. We are not aware of any investigation regarding the theoretical risk of transferring organisms such as methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) between patients by a skin marker.

In an experimental setting, Penflex and Viomedex skin markers were tested 30 times each after contaminating them with a standard inoculum of MRSA. The survival of the organism on the tip of the markers was assessed by culture on MRSA-indicator nutrient agar plates at 0, 5, 15 and 60 minutes, 24 and 48 hours and at 1, 2, and 3 weeks after contamination.

There was a significant difference between the markers, with the Penflex showing no survival of MRSA after 15 minutes whereas the Viomedex product continued to produce MRSA cultures for up to three weeks.




eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Use Markers Exclusively for Ring Fenced Wards
Kedar J Deogaonkar, et al.
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 11 Apr 2006 [Full text]
The possible link between MRSA and marker pens has been studied before
BS Goldie
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 20 Apr 2006 [Full text]
Linking pre-operative skin marking with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
S THOMAS, MRCS
J Bone Joint Surg Br Online, 12 May 2006 [Full text]

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Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General