# Prevalence and demographic correlates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in patients undergoing total knee replacement

## TL;DR

This study found a low rate of MRSA colonization in patients scheduled for knee replacement surgery, with all positive cases in those aged 60 or older.

## Contribution

The study identifies a potential age-related correlation with MRSA positivity in TKR patients and suggests targeted screening for older individuals.

## Key findings

- Only 0.7% of patients undergoing TKR were MRSA positive.
- All MRSA-positive patients were aged 60 years or older.
- Most patients were female, with 75% of the sample being women.

## Abstract

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a significant concern in orthopedic surgery, particularly in total knee replacement (TKR), where infection can lead to severe complications. In procedures like TKR, where implants act as a foreign body and potential surface for biofilm formation, infections can lead to severe complications, including delayed healing, and implant failure, and often need multiple revision surgeries. Screening for MRSA before surgery has become a standard practice in many hospitals to reduce the risk of infection. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA in patients undergoing TKR and analyze demographic characteristics. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients scheduled for TKR. Demographic data, including age, gender, and other relevant clinical information, were extracted from the patient’s medical records. MRSA screening was performed as part of the preoperative protocol, and the results were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and calculate the prevalence of MRSA. Results: A total of 938 patients underwent MRSA screening prior to TKR. The mean age was 67.25 years (median: 68; range: 33–87). The majority of patients were female, accounting for 706 (75.0%), while 232 (25.0%) were male. MRSA test results revealed that 938 (99.3%) patients tested negative, whereas 6 (0.7%) tested positive. Among MRSA-positive patients, all were aged 60 years or older, suggesting a potential correlation between advanced age and MRSA positivity. Conclusion: This study found a low MRSA prevalence (0.7%) in TKR patients, with all cases occurring in individuals aged ≥60 years. The findings advocate prioritizing preoperative screening in older patients to optimize resource use in low-prevalence settings and highlight the need to investigate TKR-specific risk factors for tailored infection control strategies.