MRSA is endemic in hospitals and nursing homes. It use to be that you only acquired MRSA in health care facilities, but now community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is prevalent and spreading at an alarming rate and one of the major factors is lax infection control by hospitals. There are now three strains of CA-MRSA identified in the U.S. They have come back into the hospital and now it is possible to be infected with a CA-MRSA strain in the hospital.
MRSA is usually transmitted through physical contact, not throught the air and usually spread in hospitals on people's hands. Healthcare workers can become contaminated by contact with patients and by not wearing gloves or washing hands and then infecting other patients. Surfaces in the hospital and medical devices that are contaminated with body fluids also spread the bacteria.
The prevention of MRSA infections is based upon standard infection control precautions including:
HAND WASHING - Health care facility
Careful hand washing is the single most effective way to control the spread of MRSA. Health care workers should wash their hands after contact with each patient. If the patient is known to have a MRSA infection, the health care worker should wear disposable gloves. Depending on the type of contact, a gown should also be worn. Patients must also wash their hands to avoid spreading the bacteria to others. If basic hygiene precautions are followed, MRSA carriers ar not a hazard to others including their family and friends.
Prevention Precautions in the community
* Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water. Cover and rub all surfaces of the hands. Lather and rub for at least 10 seconds.
* Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with a clean bandage until healed.
* Avoid contact with other people's wounds or material and surfaces contaminated from wounds.
* Avoid skin-to-skin contact with persons who have skin infections.
* Do not share personal items like, towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms with other persons.
* Clean objects and surfaces that are shared with other persons, such as athletic equipment, before you use them.
