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Which Infection Controls Should a Nurse Implement for a Patient That Has MRSA?

Infections with MRSA are a growing problem in the health-care setting. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a contagious bacteria that is resistant to the most-powerful antibiotics available. Because most normal antibiotics do not work to kill the infection, MRSA infections are extremely difficult to treat and can even be fatal in extreme cases. Therefore, nurses in the health-care setting need to work to prevent the spread of MRSA as much as possible.

  1. Isolation

    • MRSA is extremely contagious, so hospitalized patients with the infections should be isolated in single-patient rooms. Infections with MRSA can occur in any health-care setting, including nursing homes and neonatal intensive care units. Nurses should remove infected patients from the general population and other patients to minimize exposure.

    Prompt Diagnosis

    • Nurses can reduce the spread and severity of MRSA infections by assisting in prompt diagnosis. Early symptoms are red bumps that look like pimples or spider bites, which quickly turn into painful abscesses that need to be surgically drained. When patients infected with MRSA are diagnosed quickly, they can get antibiotics sooner and medications may be more effective. Nurses should also carefully monitor patients to observe signs of possible infection and keep detailed records.

    Education

    • In an effort to reduce the spread of MRSA, nurses can educate patients' families, hospital personnel and the general public about the ways the disease is transmitted, which include hand washing, keeping wounds covered, sanitizing laundry and not sharing personal items like towels and razors. Educational campaigns focus on proper hygiene, especially hand washing. The Centers for Disease Control has a campaign to reduce the spread of MRSA, offering posters and fact sheets on how to prevent the disease for display in common areas.

    Antimicrobials

    • One possible cause of MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the improper use of antibiotics. Nurses can help educate patients and their families about proper use of antibiotics, such as finishing full courses of prescribed antibiotics. Use of antibacterial products, such as sprays, dish soap and hand sanitizer, should be limited because it makes bacteria stronger. In most situations, regular soap and water is adequate for killing germs.

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