New AHRQ toolkit empowers OR teams to cut MRSA, SSI risk

Editor's Note

An actionable, evidence-based toolkit from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), released in April 2025, aims to help curb the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and surgical site infections (SSIs), especially in high-risk orthopedic and cardiac procedures. As detailed in the AHRQ website, the “Toolkit for MRSA Prevention: Targeting SSI” equips perioperative teams with customizable resources to strengthen infection prevention in surgical services. The toolkit focuses on cardiac, hip and knee joint replacement, and spinal fusion surgeries—procedures particularly vulnerable to MRSA and SSIs.

The toolkit is structured around three major components. First, “Key Strategies to Prevent MRSA” highlights four high-impact strategic areas where surgical teams can focus efforts to reduce MRSA transmission. Second, the “MRSA and SSI Prevention Phases” section maps prevention practices across the full continuum of perioperative care. According to the source, the toolkit breaks this down into the office/home phase, preoperative, intraoperative, and immediate postoperative phases, guiding teams to apply tailored prevention interventions at each step.

Third, the toolkit incorporates the principles of the Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP), instructing teams on integrating CUSP methods into existing workflows. This includes engaging frontline staff and fostering a culture of safety—critical components for sustaining long-term infection prevention improvements. Finally, a section titled “Operationalizing Your Program” provides tools to translate these strategies into day-to-day practice. This portion of the toolkit is to help institutions adapt and implement infection control methods to fit their specific surgical environments and goals.

Visit the link below to get more details and resources for each section of the toolkit.