If a patient tests positive for MRSA in the nares, do we treat them like we do all patients placed upon contact precautions? I was taught that terminal cleaning was required and that personnel should be (1.) notified, and (2.) given appropriate PPE. My facility and director say that "we treat ALL patients like they are contact precautions" (we do not). Thoughts?
jeckrn, BSN, RN 1,868 Posts Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR. Has 17 years experience. May 14, 2017 Most healthcare workers would be positive for MRSA if their nares were cultured.
MunoRN, RN 8,058 Posts Specializes in Critical Care. Has 10 years experience. May 15, 2017 MRSA screens look for colonization, not infection, which are two very different things. Whether or not a facility uses contact isolation precautions for colonization as well as active infection varies, and in my experience it's about 50/50 between those isolate for colonization vs isolating only for active infection.
Editorial Team / Admin Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN 6 Articles; 11,337 Posts Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development. Has 18 years experience. May 15, 2017 We follow isolation policy for MRSA in the nares. Anyone who is admitted the day of surgery for a surgery that will require ICU postop is tested several days prior. All other patients are tested on admission to ICU. We also test all patients who are admitted from a long term care facility.
popopopo 107 Posts May 15, 2017 We used to do contact precautions for this at my facility, but they changed it in the last two years.
