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How to Prevent MRSA and Staph Infections

Terms like “Staph” and “MRSA” connote images of overcrowded hospitals or poor patient care. Though both Staph and MRSA are biologically related, they aren’t the same thing. Approximately 30 percent of the population carries staph bacteria on their skin, and most of the time it’s harmless. However, open wounds exposed to the staph bacteria develop a staph infection, which causes pimple-like boils to appear around the wound. Most of the time, the infection clears on its own. The more complicated and severe version of this infection, known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is more aggressive and doesn’t respond to antibiotics. Preventing either strain of infection requires the same diligent issues of hygiene and patient care.

  1. Cover All Wounds

    • For the purposes of public health and preventing infection, you must always assume that everyone is a carrier of the Staph bacteria. Open wounds are major transfer points because they produce so much drainage. Draining is the body’s natural response to open wounds. Blood and puss draining from these wounds can contain high concentrations of Staph or MRSA bacteria. Keeping these wounds well covered with clean, dry bandages limits the bacteria transfer between people.

    Wash Your Hands

    • This is one of the most basic tenets of safe medical care. Even if you’re not wounded or sick, you can still transfer Staph and MRSA to someone with susceptible wounds. And unlike gloves, which only protect the person wearing them, not the person being touched, clean hands protect both parties. Even if you’re not a healthcare professional, washing your hands frequently, as well as the hands of children, is one of the most effective ways of preventing Staph and MRSA.

    Sterilize Non-Porous Contact Surfaces

    • Sterilizing contact surfaces is similar to hand washing in that it reduces the chances of accidentally transferring Staph or MRSA to another person. Let’s say you touch a television remote used by someone with MRSA. Bacteria from the remote immediately transfers to your hand and causes you to infect your elderly relative when you happen to brush past her IV site. Use chlorinated wipes or bleach and regularly wipe down heavy traffic areas and impermeable personal items such as hairbrushes and cell phones.

    Sterilize All Fabrics

    • The absorbent nature of towels, clothing, sheets and other linens makes them prime transfer points for staph or MRSA. As often as possible, and definitely before another person uses the items, machine-wash all fabrics on a hot wash, hot rinse setting and add bleach if possible. Temperatures inside your washing machine are too high for MRSA, Staph, or any other bacteria, to survive. Dry the fabric on high to ensure complete removal of all bacteria.

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