Study backs anti-infection tests of all hospital patients

Researchers at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare are reporting that screening all hospital patients for MRSA can sharply reduce hospital-acquired infections. The study comes a week after a well-publicized study that concluded screening of surgical patients for methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus isn't especially effective. Some experts suggest they are in fact complementary: The overall message is that "a very comprehensive, aggressive MRSA screening program can significantly reduce the number of infections," said Lance Peterson, MD, founder of Evanston Northwestern's MRSA screening program.