MRSA What You Need To Know

Staphylococcus Aureus. Methicillin (antibiotic) WHAT IS MRSA? Methicillin (antibiotic) Resistant (doesn’t affect) Staphylococcus (a common bacteria) Aureus. Pronounced M-R-S-A or “Mursa”

Staphylococcus aureus is one of many species of staph. FACTS Staphylococcus aureus is one of many species of staph. Staph is found on healthy people’s skin. Staph infections are common and include acne, impetigo, boils, styes, swimmer’s ear, and wound infections Greene Ink. (2007).

Does staph always make people sick? Many people live with staph bacteria in their nose and on their skin without getting sick. Not all staphylococcus aureus are resistant to Methicillin. A staph infection does not equal MRSA

FACTS Staphylococcus Aureus is found on the skin of 32.4% of Americans MRSA is found on the skin of 0.8% Americans

MRSA History Methicillin was introduced in 1959 to treat infections caused by penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In 1961 there were reports from the United Kingdom of S. aureus isolates that had acquired resistance to methicillin. MRSA has been around for over 45 years We have become better at diagnosing MRSA, but have not developed many drugs to treat MRSA Enright, M., Robinson, A., Randle, G., Feil, E., Grundman, H., & Spratt, B. (2002).

How does staph make people sick? A staph infection can start when there is an opening in the skin-a paper cut, scrape, nick while shaving, even a bruise may allow staph bacteria to enter the body and start an infection.

What does a staph infection look like? Staph can vary considerably in appearance. It may start out looking like a pimple, boil, or rash. The infection often contains exudate (pus). It may be swollen or red.

What does a staph infection look like?

What does a staph infection look like? More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections

How does staph spread? People spread staph by direct skin-to-skin contact.

How else does staph spread? Staph also lives on surfaces and spreads when you touch contaminated objects or surfaces and then touch something else. Staph can live on cotton fabrics for 3 weeks

How do I protect myself? Wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible to break the cycle of contamination.

How to wash your hands: 1. Wet your hands with warm water. 2. Apply a generous amount of soap. 3. Wash palms, backs of hands, wrists, fingers and under fingernails. Rub hands for 20 seconds. (20 seconds is singing Happy Birthday) 4. Rinse hands. 5. Dry hands with a new paper towel. 6. Use a new paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

What else will protect me from staph? Don’t share your personal care products Wear gloves when appropriate Cover scrapes and wounds

What else will protect me from staph? Bathe or shower every day This will reduce the amount of bacteria on your skin. Keep your fingernails cut short Less bacteria can grow under short nails.

How do I protect myself? Wash your Hands as often as possible. Yes, I know I said this already, but there may be a test----Wash your hands

I think I have a staph infection… Minor staph infections (boils) may clear up without medical intervention…but

See your Doctor Immediately if you have: Swelling Pain Redness or red streaks radiating from the wound site Fever General ill feeling Warmth at the site

I have a staph infection….. Can I work? Whether or not you can continue to work depends on where the sore is and where you work. Let your supervisor know immediately.

I Have a staph infection If your hand, wrist, or face is infected with staph you should NOT work in Food Service Laundry Direct Patient Care

I Have a Staph Infection If the sore is at a site other than the hand/wrist or face, you may continue to work if the sore is bandaged so that it does not leak.

If you have a staph infection… Keep your staph infection covered with a clean, dry bandage. Change the bandage at least twice a day or when or if it becomes wet.

Wash Your Hands Before and after changing bandages Before eating After using the bathroom Whenever you feel the need

REMEMBER Hand washing is the most effective way to stop the spread of infectious disease.

Stay Clean-Laundry Wash for at least twenty minutes The amount of motion and the length of washing time both help remove bacteria from clothing at any water temperature. Load clothes loosely in the washer and dryer so that they can move freely during the wash cycle. Drying clothes in a hot clothes dryer kills more bacteria than line drying.

Disinfecting Bathrooms & Work Surfaces Cleaning should be done with a bleach solution or an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered disinfectant according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (10% Bleach Water)

Remember Keep your hands clean by washing with soap and warm water or using an alcohol hand gel. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages. Avoid sharing personal items such as make-up, towels or razors.

Don’t share it with others. STAPH Don’t share it with others.

References Enright, M., Robinson, A., Randle, G., Feil, E., Grundman, H., & Spratt, B. (2002). The evolutionary history of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. National Academy of Sciences. 99(11): 7687–7692 Environmental Protection Agency (2007). List H of EPA’s registered products against methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin resistant enterococcusfaecalis. Retrieved October 15, 2007 from http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/list_h_mrsa_vre.pdf Greene Ink. (2007). Staph. Retrieved November 10, 2007 from http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1193 /

References Kuehnert, M., Kruszon-Moran, D., Hill, H., McQuillan, G., McAllister, S., Fosheim, G., McDougal, L.,Chaitram, J., Jensen, B., Fridkin, S., Killgore, G., Tenover, F. (2006). Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in the United States, 2001-2002. Journal of Infectious Diseases, Jan 15;193(2): 169-71. Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control Unit. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2007 from http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/antibiotic%5Fresistance/mrsa/