Advanced Surgical Hospital

People who have MRSA germs on their skin or who are infected with MRSA may be able to spread the germ to other people. MRSA can be passed on to bed linens, bed rails, bathroom fixtures, and medical equipment. It can spread to other people on contaminated equipment and on the hands of doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers and visitors.

Yes, there are antibiotics that can kill MRSA germs. Some patients with MRSA abscesses may need surgery to drain the infection. Your healthcare provider will determine which treatments are best for you.

To prevent MRSA infections, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers: • Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for every patient. • Carefully clean hospital rooms and medical equipment. • Use Contact Precautions when caring for patients with MRSA. Contact Precautions mean: o Whenever possible, patients with MRSA will have a single room or will share a room only with someone else who also has MRSA. o Healthcare providers will put on gloves and wear a gown over their clothing while taking care of patients with MRSA. o Visitors may also be asked to wear a gown and gloves. o When leaving the room, hospital providers and visitors remove their gown and gloves and clean their hands. o Patients on Contact Precautions are asked to stay in their hospital rooms as much as possible. They should not go to common areas, such as the gift shop or cafeteria. They may go to other areas of the hospital for treatments and tests. • May test some patients to see if they have MRSA on their skin. This test involves rubbing a cotton-tipped swab in the patient’s nostrils or on the skin.

In the hospital • Make sure that all doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for you. If you do not see your providers clean their hands, please ask them to do so. When you go home • If you have wounds or an intravascular device (such as a catheter or dialysis port) make sure that you know how to take care of them.

The chance of getting MRSA while visiting a person who has MRSA is very low. To decrease the chance of getting MRSA your family and friends should: • Clean their hands before they enter your room and when they leave. • Ask a healthcare provider if they need to wear protective gowns and gloves when they visit you.

To prevent another MRSA infection and to prevent spreading MRSA to others: • Keep taking any antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. Don’t take halfdoses or stop before you complete your prescribed course. • Clean your hands often, especially before and after changing your wound dressing or bandage. • People who live with you should clean their hands often as well. • Keep any wounds clean and change bandages as instructed until healed. • Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors. • Wash and dry your clothes and bed linens in the warmest temperatures recommended on the labels. • Tell your healthcare providers that you have MRSA. This includes home health nurses and aides, therapists, and personnel in doctors’ offices. • Your doctor may have more instructions for you.