How To Avoid MRSA In Hospital

How To Avoid MRSA In Hospital

To avoid MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection in a hospital setting, whether you’re a patient, visitor, or healthcare worker, it’s crucial to follow strict hygiene and precautionary measures. MRSA is a type of staph bacteria resistant to many antibiotics and can be dangerous, especially in healthcare environments.

✅ Tips for Patients and Visitors

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, especially:
  • Before eating
  • After using the bathroom
  • After touching hospital surfaces
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap isn’t available.

2. Don’t Share Personal Items

• Avoid sharing items like:
  • Towels
  • Razors
  • Cell phones
  • Bedding or clothes

3. Keep Wounds Covered

• If you have a wound, keep it clean and properly bandaged.
• Alert medical staff if you notice:
  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Discharge

4. Clean Surroundings

• Wipe down frequently touched surfaces (e.g., bed rails, call buttons, remotes) with hospital-approved disinfectant wipes if not already done.

5. Ask About Infection Control

• Don’t hesitate to ask healthcare providers:
  • If they’ve washed their hands
  • About the hospital’s MRSA screening policies

6. Limit Visitors

• Fewer visitors = fewer chances for bacteria to spread.
• Visitors should follow hand hygiene rules and wear protective gear if required.

🩺 Tips for Healthcare Workers

1. Follow Contact Precautions

• Use gloves and gowns when entering rooms of patients with MRSA.
• Remove protective gear before leaving the room and wash hands immediately.

2. Perform Rigorous Hand Hygiene

• Always wash hands before and after contact with any patient or surface in patient care areas.

3. Disinfect Equipment

• Clean and disinfect any shared medical equipment between uses (e.g., stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs).

4. Screen High-Risk Patients

• Hospitals may screen ICU or surgical patients for MRSA.
• Isolate or cohort colonized patients as needed.

5. Follow Environmental Cleaning Protocols

• Ensure thorough, regular disinfection of hospital rooms and high-touch surfaces.

⚠️ High-Risk Groups

Those at higher risk for MRSA infection in hospitals include:

• ICU patients
• Surgical patients
• People with weakened immune systems
• Those with indwelling devices (catheters, IV lines)

📌 Summary

Action	Who Should Do It	Why
Wash hands often	Everyone	Primary way MRSA spreads
Avoid touching wounds	Patients, visitors	Reduces transmission risk
Wear protective gear	Visitors, staff	Prevents spread to/from patients
Clean surfaces	Everyone	MRSA survives on surfaces
Isolate MRSA-positive patients	Staff	Limits hospital-wide spread