MRSA
Posted By Chris on August 12, 2010
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is bacteria that have become resistant to several classes of antibiotics, according to the (CDC).Traditional staph organisms and infections have been documented and treated for years but the antibiotic resistant strain, or MRSA, has presented challenges in health care settings and has also limited treatment options. Preventing transmission of any organism in long-term care is a challenge but with determination and diligence, can be accomplished. I don’t like the word always but will make an exception here. Always follow Standard Precautions; always wash your hands or use alcohol sanitizers between patients. Always cover the source of the infection and if draining wounds cannot be contained, use contact precautions per your facility policies and procedures.
Educate your staff, patients and visitors; stress hand washing, the most effective deterrent to the transmission of infectious microorganisms. To prevent the transmission of MRSA, washing hands with regular soap and water reduces the numbers of organisms on the hands by washing them down the drain; this action alone, lessens the potential for transmission to others. Always use Standard Precautions and add Transmission Based Precautions if necessary. They are very closely related. Standard Precautions are what we use when we don’t know who has what. Transmission Based Precautions are used when we suspect or know with certainty there is an organism that can be avoided by applying Contact, Airborne or Droplet Precautions. CDC: Preventing MRSA in Healthcare Settings
Comments
Leave a Reply