MRSA Facts and Tips

Preventing the spread of MRSA and HA-MRSA is the best answer to fighting this painful and sometimes deadly virus. Since it is almost always spread by touch, the most important thing to do is thorough and frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitizer.

• Wash for at least 10 seconds to assure enough germ killing time. This is the length of one chorus of 'Happy Birthday.' Hand washing is the best way to stop the spread of many germs and viruses.

• Keep all skin irritations or open wounds, even paper cuts, clean and covered with bandage. Do not touch anyone else’s wounds or bandages without gloves.

• Keep surfaces clean with alcohol based sanitizers, disinfectants, or soap according to product cleaning guidelines.

• Wash clothing, bedding, bath towels and wash clothes in warm or hot water, detergent and dry in hot dryer if possible.

• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing to help prevent spread of MRSA and many other viruses.

• Always request that any health care professional you see, wash their hands before making contact with your body. Also inquire as to how often office equipment and examination instruments are cleaned, ex. stethoscope, blood pressure cuffs, etc.

• Surfaces in your home, car or work areas, such as any items you touch or are in close contact with, ex. keyboard, doorknobs, toys, pens, movie rentals, towels, razors, light switches, handrails, telephones, etc., should be cleaned and sanitized regularly and not shared, if possible.

• Symptoms of the MRSA virus may not always look the same in each patient, but will show signs and characteristics that should alert one to seek medical attention

• Sudden skin irritations, bumps resembling insect bites or pimples, redness or inflamed tissue around opening or injury in skin. The infection site and skin around it may become tender. At times, fever occurs or a patient will suffer boils, abscesses or cellulitis, (a potentially serious skin infection that affects the skin and soft tissues). Skin becomes red, hot to touch and swollen at times).

MRSA and HA-MRSA is a serious infection that left untreated can become fatal without fast and proper medical care. Those infected can be treated with antibiotics specifically chosen to fight MRSA. The infected sites can be drained and other treatments can be done to greatly increase the odds of healing and survival. Temporary isolation of the patient may be necessary until the infection is under control.