MRSA: Hospitals are partnering with patients to prevent spread of infection
Article provided by Ephrata Community Hospital
In recent months, there have been media reports about the increase in MRSA infections. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a kind of staph bacteria. This bacteria lives on the skin and in the nose, usually without causing harm. But when the skin is opened through a cut or scrape, the bacteria can enter the wound and cause infection.
Because staph infections are especially a problem for people with surgical wounds, burns or tubes in their body for medical treatment, hospitals in Pennsylvania are now required to test high-risk patients for MRSA when they are admitted to the hospital.
“Even though people can carry these germs in or on their body without symptoms, MRSA can unknowingly be passed from patient to patient if important steps are not taken,” says Evelyn Chronister, R.N., Infection Control Nurse. Ephrata Community Hospital tests patients who are at high risk for carrying or contracting MRSA, including those who are coming to the hospital from a nursing home, patients admitted to the ICU, chronic dialysis patients and infants admitted to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) who were born at another facility or at home.
The test for MRSA is simple--a nurse swabs the inside of a patient’s nose with a small sterile swab. If the patient is found to carry MRSA, hospital staff will take special precautions during the hospital stay. A test result that indicates MRSA is present does not mean treatment is needed unless an infection is present.
“This testing is just one more way we can try to prevent hospital acquired infections,” Chronister says. Beyond MRSA testing, Ephrata is participating in the Surgical Care Infection Project (SCIP), an initiative to reduce the incidence of post surgical infections. Key steps such as giving antibiotics in a timely manner before the surgery begins and continuing during the period just after surgery ends have reduced the rate of infections in hospitals across the country, including Ephrata Community Hospital.
Because any invasive procedure (when a piece of medical equipment such as a tube, scope or scalpel enters the body) puts a patient at risk for infection, Ephrata Community Hospital has also developed new processes to help staff members prevent hospital-acquired infections. New techniques, protocols and new types of equipment have been beneficial, Chronister says. She offers examples of a new type of catheter, special techniques for insertion of central lines and even the positioning of ventilator patients in bed. And perhaps simplest of all, a hospital-wide emphasis on handwashing plays a big role in reducing infections.
“Our goal really is zero-tolerance for hospital-acquired infections and it takes all of us working together to achieve that goal,” Chronister says.
Resources online:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
www.dsf.health.state.pa.us
www.ephratahospital.org (download a pdf file on community associated MRSA)
MRSA in the community...
What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)?
The community form of MRSA occurs in persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized nor had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters). CA-MRSA usually produces skin infections, such as pimples and boils. The main mode of spread of all forms of staph, including MRSA, is by the hands and skin-to-skin contact, crowded conditions, and poor hygiene.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from MRSA is through basic hygiene! Wash your hands. Don’t share personal items such as razors and towels and keep athletic equipment clean.
