An outbreak of infection with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a special care baby unit: value of topical mupirocin and of traditional methods of infection control.

This report deals with the problems associated with a high incidence rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in low birth weight infants in a regional special care baby unit. Strict isolation facilities were not used and the outbreak was promptly brought under control by the use of intensive traditional methods of infection control and the use of topical mupirocin in a paraffin base.