MRSA in Multiple Systems?

[NurseNody]

I currently work in a LTC facility where we recently found out one of our newest patients is a carrier for MRSA in her sputum. She also had multiple blisters on her hands (similar to impetigo), idiopathic lesions on her arms et would bruise easily even though she was not on an antithrombolytic. Can a person be a carrier for MRSA in one body system and then show s/sx in other body systems? Can the carrier transmit the MRSA from sputum to another patient with an uninfected open wound?

Also what type of disinfection should be done in her old room? Should the privacy curtains be disinfected?

Please help me out I am concerned for my aide staff et my other residents. Thank you.

[Mammy1111]

If your patient has MRSA in her sputum, she needs to be isolated or cohorted with another MRSA positive patient. She absolutely can spread MRSA by handling her own sputum and then touching another patient or their things. Staff can also spread her mrsa around without using proper precautions. She should wear a mask when outside her room and her hands should be washed carefully before leaving the room. Her blisters and/or other lesions should be cultured and if positive, should be covered if she is out of her room.

She can spread her own mrsa in the sputum to other parts of her body. My father, who died recently from HA MRSA pneumonia, spread MRSA from his sputum..to his hands....to indwelling catheter, to his bladder. In fact, that is where his mrsa was first diagnosed, even though he was coughing, had pneumonia on xray and had a productive cough. I had to request a sputum culture.

So, in answer to your question, your patient can transmit MRSA, (colonized or infected with symptoms) to other parts of her body and to other patients.