Clinical and cost ineffectiveness of preoperative screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and intranasal mupirocin in preventing methicillin-resistant S aureus infections in cardiothoracic surgery.

In our recent experience with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in 488 patients undergoing thoracic cardiovascular surgery, we found only 2 MRSA infections (one sternal and one graft site). Both patients received preoperative bacitracin and had a negative nares culture for MRSA before the initiation of bacitracin therapy. We conclude that preoperative MRSA screening cultures and bacitracin prophylaxis are neither clinically efficacious nor cost-effective in predicting or preventing MRSA in patients undergoing thoracic cardiovascular surgery.

Evaluation of a high visibility enforcement project focused on passenger vehicles interacting with commercial vehicles.

Introduction: In 2004, Washington State applied NHTSA's High Visibility Enforcement model used in the Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign in an attempt to reduce unsafe driving behaviors around commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The program was called Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT). This paper details the methods used to evaluate the program's effectiveness and the results of the evaluation.

The relationship between perceived risk of being ticketed and self-reported seat belt use.

Problem: Twenty-nine percent of Americans failed to use their seat belts in 2000. Efforts to improve safety belt usage can be enhanced by identifying specific factors that motivate belt use.

Method: Motorist survey data were used to examine the effect of Perceived Risk of being Ticketed (PRT) for a seat belt infraction on self-reported seat belt use.