Transcript Slide 1

What Is MRSA?

Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)
 Common cause of infection in the
community
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Methicillin-Resistant Staph (MRSA)
 Increasingly important cause of health care
associated infections since 1970s
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In 1990s, emerged as cause of infection
in the community
How do you get MRSA?
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Outbreaks of MRSA in the Community
 Often first detected as abscesses or
“spider bites”

Various Settings
 Sports participants
 Inmates
 Military recruits
 Daycare attendees
 Hurricane evacuees in shelters
Types
Disease Syndrome (%)
 Skin/soft tissue 1,266 (77%)
 Wound (Traumatic) 157 (10%)
 Urinary Tract Infection 64 (4%)
 Sinusitis 61 (4%)
 Bacteremia 43 (3%)
 Pneumonia 31 (2%)
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People
Affected
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The estimated number of people developing a serious MRSA
infection (i.e., invasive) in 2005 was about 94,360
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Approximately 18,650 persons died during a hospital stay
related to these serious MRSA infections
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Overall rates of disease were consistently highest
among older persons (age >65), blacks, and males
Most Invasive MRSA Infections
are Healthcare-Associated
Community-Associated 14%
Healthcare-Associated 86%
Staphylococcus aureus (staph)
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Bacteria commonly carried on the skin or
in the nose of healthy people
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Bacteria may be present without causing
infection
25% to 30% of the population is “colonized”
Staph bacteria are some of the most
common causes of skin infections in the U.S.
Pimples and boils
Bloodstream infections
Pneumonia
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Staph bacteria that are resistant to certain antibiotics
 Methicillin
 Penicillin
 Amoxicillin
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Occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and
healthcare facilities who have weakened immune systems

May also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and
healthcare facilities
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“community-associated” if acquired by a person who has
not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or
has not had an invasive procedure
What does a MRSA infection
look like?
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MRSA can cause skin infections that may look like
a pimple or boil
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Can be red, swollen, painful or have pus or other
drainage
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Skin monitoring important for persons returning
from hospitals
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People with skin infections should see a healthcare
provider
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More serious infections may cause pneumonia,
bloodstream infections or surgical wound infections
Risk Factors
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Clusters of MRSA skin infections have been investigated among:
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Athletes
Military recruits
Men who have sex with men
Prisoners
Factors associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections
include:
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Close skin-to-skin contact
Crowded living conditions
Cuts or abrasions of the skin
Contaminated items and surfaces
Poor hygiene
Prevention
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Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap
and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
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Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a
bandage until healed
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Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages
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Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors
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If skin is dry, use a moisturizer to prevent cracking.
Treatment
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Most MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics
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Take all doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless
your doctor tells you otherwise
 Do not share antibiotics with other people

Some staph infections may be treated by draining the
abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics
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Drainage should only be done by a healthcare provider
 If the infection does not get better after a few days, contact your
healthcare provider again
 If other people you know or live with get the same infection, tell them
to go to their healthcare provider
Control
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If MRSA is identified, follow these steps…
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Cover the wound
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Pus from infected wounds can contain staph and
MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help
prevent the spread to others
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Keep wounds that are draining or have pus
covered with clean, dry bandages
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Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on
proper care of the wound
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Bandages or tape can be discarded with the
regular trash
Control
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Clean your hands
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Persons with MRSA, and others in close contact,
should wash hands frequently with soap and warm
water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
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Especially important after changing the bandage or touching the
infected wound
Do not share personal items
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such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or athletic
equipment that may have had contact with the infected wound
or bandage
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Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled
with water and laundry detergent
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Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also
helps kill bacteria in clothes
Should Students with MRSA Skin Infections Be
Excluded From Attending School?
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Unless directed by a physician, students with MRSA
infections should not be excluded from attending
school
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Exclusion from school and sports activities should be
reserved for those with wound drainage ("pus") that
cannot be covered and contained with a clean, dry
bandage and for those who cannot maintain good
personal hygiene
Environmental Control
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The 5 “C”s of Community Associated MRSA
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CLEANLINESS:
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COMPROMISED:
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Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages
CONTAMINATION:
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Skin integrity - Keep wound(s) clean and covered
CONTACT:
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Hand hygiene, bathing, laundering of clothing/uniforms
Avoid sharing personal items (water bottles, towels, etc. Clean and disinfect
environment
CROWDING:
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Implement measures to avoid overcrowding, as appropriate