Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is not always caught on the orthopaedic ward.

We report the prevalence and incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonisation during the patient journey for patients admitted to orthopaedic and trauma wards. Patients were swabbed for MRSA colonisation on admission, transfer, and discharge from hospital. Elective patients undergoing major joint surgery were also swabbed at a pre-operative assessment clinic.