Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) management in palliative care units and hospices in Germany: a nationwide survey on patient isolation policies and quality of life.

Background: For palliative care settings, little is known about the benefits of specific methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus containment regimens and the burdens patient isolation imposes on affected patients, their families, and professional caregivers.

Aim: To explore the current practice of MRSA management and its impact on inpatients' quality of life as perceived by professional caregivers.

Design: Survey of inpatient palliative care institutions using 23-item questionnaires (infrastructural data: six items, management process: 14, clinical significance: three).