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British Journal of Infection Control
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A survey of MRSA awareness and knowledge among the general public and patients' visitors

Anne Marie McLaughlin

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland. Email: annemmclaughlin{at}gmail.com

James B Canavan

Department of Gastroenterology, Adelaide & Meath Hospital

Emma J Adams

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.

Ruth McDonagh

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.

Harpreet Brar

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.

Gerard J Fitzpatrick

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.

Maria B Donnelly

Department of Intensive Care, Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating The National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland.

Our aim was to assess, for the first time, the know-ledge and perception of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the general public and a group of hospital visitors.

Five hundred and forty five participants completed the survey, 24 (4.4%) had not heard of MRSA and were excluded from further analysis; 345 members of the public and 176 hospital visitors remained. Twenty four (4.4%) of the public and two of the hospital visitors had a personal history of MRSA and thus formed a discrete group. The majority of participants thought that MRSA transmission could be reduced by hand washing. MRSA evoked a strong emotive response, 61% agreeing they would be angry and 80.9% agreeing that they would feel fearful if diagnosed with MRSA.

The public are generally knowledgeable about MRSA but most agreed that they would feel angry and afraid by its diagnosis. Future public education campaigns on MRSA should be aware of this response.

Key Words: MRSA knowledge • survey • public • patients and visitors

British Journal of Infection Control, Vol. 9, No. 5, 18-23 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1469044608095540
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