Archives of internal medicine
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Clinical practice guidelines are developed to assist in patient care. Physicians may assume that following such guidelines means practicing evidence-based medicine. However, the quality of supporting literature can vary greatly. ⋯ More than half of the current recommendations of the IDSA are based on level III evidence only. Until more data from well-designed controlled clinical trials become available, physicians should remain cautious when using current guidelines as the sole source guiding patient care decisions.
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) wound infections after cardiac surgery have increased in recent years and carry significant morbidity and mortality. In our hospital, MRSA accounted for 56% of postoperative infections. ⋯ This MRSA intervention program, in which all patients receive intranasal mupirocin and patients colonized with MRSA receive vancomycin prophylaxis, has resulted in a near-complete and sustained elimination of MRSA wound infections after cardiac surgery.