Transcript Biological Hazards: Staph and MRSA Infections – October

Biological Hazards:
Staph and MRSA Infections
UCOP October 2008 Safety Meeting
Biological Hazards
 Periodically Discuss Various Biological
Hazards
 Hazards
 Routes of Exposure
 Preventive Measures
 Selected Biological Hazards
 Staph and Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Staph and MRSA
 Staph – Bacteria
 Infections Ranging from Skin boils to Severe
Blood Infections
 MRSA
 Type of Staph Resistant to Certain
Antibiotics
 Two Major Types
 Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA)
 Community Associated (CA-MRSA)
MRSA
 Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA)
 Persons in Hospitals & Health Care Facilities
 Recent Medical Procedures – Dialysis, Surgery,
Catheters
 Nursing Homes - Persons with Weaken Immune
Systems
 Community-Associated (CA-MRSA)
 Most Common Type of Soft Tissue Infection
Seen in Outpatient Setting
 Focus on CA-MRSA in This Presentation
Staph and MRSA Bacteria
 Can Live on the Skin and/or Nose
of Healthy Individuals without
Causing Any Symptoms of Disease
 Injury to Skin (Scrape or Cut)
 Allow Staph or MRSA Bacteria to
Enter Skin and Cause an Infection
Who Gets CA-MRSA
 Close Contact with an Infected Person
 Direct Physical Contact (Not Through the Air)
with an Infected Person
 Indirect Contact – Touching Objects
Contaminated with the MRSA Bacteria
 Towels, Sheets, Wound Dressings, Clothes, Razors
 Workout Areas or Sports Equipment
MRSA Infections
 Usually Mild, Limited to the
Surface of the Skin
 Treated with Proper Hygiene and
Antibiotics
 If Left Untreated or Not
Recognized Early
 Can Be Difficult to Treat
 Can Progress to Life-Threatening
Blood or Bone Infections
Staph and MRSA
 Usually First Look
Like Spider Bites or
Red Bumps Which
Become Swollen &
Painful
 May Fill with Pus
Incidents of CA-MRSA
 Athletic Settings
 Close Personal Contact – Wrestling &
Football
 Equipment – Workout Equipment,
Gym Mats, Uniforms
 Personal Items –Towels, Razors,
Clothes
 Schools, Dormitories, Military
Barracks, Correctional Facilities,
Five “C’s” – Make MRSA
Easier to Spread
 Crowding
 Frequent Skin-to-Skin Contact
 Compromised Skin (Cuts,
Abrasions)
 Contaminated Items/Surfaces
 Lack of Cleanliness
Prevent Spreading of MRSA
 Wash Hands Often or Use
Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer
 Keep Cuts & Scrapes Clean and
Covered with Bandages
 Do Not Touch Other People’s
Cuts or Bandages
 Do Not Share Personal Items
(Towels or Razors)
 Wipe Down Gym Equipment
Before and After Use