MRSA Exposure & Prevention

Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is a strain of staph infection that has become resistant to some antibiotics. Patients in hospitals are at an increased risk of exposure to the bacteria, but the problem exists in the community as well. Prevention is the best remedy to treating this strain of bacteria.

Exposure

• Learning your exposure risk is the first step to taking preventative steps that will keep you free of a MRSA infection. Hospitals and nursing homes are areas of particular concern because the rate of MRSA infection is higher in these facilities. MRSA acquired in these facilities is called health care associated MRSA.

  You can also acquire MRSA outside of a health care setting. This type of MRSA is called community associated MRSA, but can also be acquired in a hospital. This type of infection is responsible for skin infections and pneumonia, and both can be very serious health threats.

  MRSA can be acquired in virtually any setting today and can pose a very serious health threat for infected people. It is important to practice good health habits such as hand washing and keeping your personal items such as towels and clothing to yourself.

Prevention

• According to the Mayo Clinic, thirty percent of the population is colonized with staph infection and a smaller percentage with MRSA. Staph infection can live on the body without causing any symptoms. When the bacteria enter the body through a wound or cut, skin infections or a serious illness can occur. Keeping wounds covered to prevent the bacteria from entering the body is a vital part of MRSA prevention.

  Do not share towels and clothing with others to prevent the spread of MRSA. Because it is impossible to determine who is infected with the bacteria, you should not share razors, athletic equipment, towels or bed linens.

  Wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day. Keep hand sanitizers with you to wash your hands when you are unable to wash with soap and water.

Treatment

• Ask your doctor for tests if you have a skin infection. You can prevent the spread of the infection if you begin treatment and keep others from becoming infected. Keep your wounds covered and treated to prevent spreading the bacteria to others. If you have a skin infection that you have not had tested for MRSA, stay out of contact sports and athletic games until your doctor treats the wound and the infection has cleared up. Take all of the antibiotics that your doctor prescribes to you for a bacterial staph infection to prevent resistance.