MRSA

Staphylococcus aureus is a germ that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy people. Occasionally, Staphylococcus aureus can cause an infection. When Staphylococcus aureus develops resistance to certain antibiotics, it is called Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA.

Risk factors for MRSA acquisition include invasive procedures, prior treatment with antibiotics, prolonged hospital stay, stay in an intensive care or burn unit, surgical wound infection and close proximity to a colonized person.

MRSA can also be transmitted from mother to child through breast milk.

MRSA is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands of caregivers.

MRSA can be present on a person’s hands, either from touching contaminants excreted by the infected person or from touching articles contaminated by the skin of an infected person, such as towels, sheets and wound dressings.

MRSA can live on hands and objects in the environment.

Mild cases may not require treatment; severe cases may require other antibiotics.

The patient’s family and visitors should not assist other patients with their personal care, as this may cause the germ to spread. They are also required to wear a gown and gloves while in the patient’s room. Before leaving the room, visitors must remove the gown and gloves and dispose of them in the garbage container and linen hamper. They must then clean their hands.

Good hand washing by everyone (healthcare staff, physicians, patients and visitors) is the single-most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like MRSA and VRE.

All staff and the Infection Control Department of HHHS are committed to the safety of our patients. Good Hand Hygiene practices are an essential part of our day to day routine, and we look for continuous improvement in this endeavour.

Counts between 1 - 4 will be posted as < 5, as specified by the MOHLTC reporting guidelines.

MRSA rate at HHHS is 1/1000 patient days.