MRSA question

[Epona]

Hi. I know with MRSA you gown up and wear gloves... I know it is contact precautions. However, what if an infected patient spits up or sneezes and say it goes in your eye or mouth... can you get it that way?? It would seem if they have MRSA in their system, you could contract it that way too. Any thoughts on this?? I am curious. Thanks!

[CABG patch kid, BSN, RN]

It depends on where the MRSA is found... sometimes it will just be MRSA of the wound and it is pretty doubtful that their sputum will also be infected, but theoretically it could be if the patient cross-contaiminated himself. On the other hand, I've had lots of patients who are MRSA positive in the sputum or nares; in that case, a mask is part of the isolation protocol and they are technically a droplet isolation, not just contact.

If you are concerned about it you could always wear a mask with an eyeshield if they have an active cough. I'd also go as far as asking the MD for a culture if I suspected something like that.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Many healthcare workers are already colonized with MRSA, but display no s/s of infection.

http://health.utah.gov/epi/fact_sheets/mrsa.html

MRSA can affect people in two different ways--colonization or infection. When a person carries the flora on the skin or in the nose without showing signs or symptoms of infection, the person is said to be colonized.

[gorgeous77, LPN, LVN]

so is MRSA contact or airborne precaution or both?

[MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN]

so is MRSA contact or airborne precaution or both?

It depends on where it is. If its in the lungs and they are showing signs of infection than its respiratory precautions.

If its a skin infection its just contact. I see it EVERYDAY! (skin infections, that is.)

The people I work with freak over MRSA (non-nurses). Its everywhere though and we can't do anything but take precautions.

[Katie82, RN]

Hi. I know with MRSA you gown up and wear gloves... I know it is contact precautions. However, what if an infected patient spits up or sneezes and say it goes in your eye or mouth... can you get it that way?? It would seem if they have MRSA in their system, you could contract it that way too. Any thoughts on this?? I am curious. Thanks!

MRSA can be latent (like Herpes, only bacterial) just waiting for an outbreak. It is common to a large part of the population. Many hospitals are now screening all admissions for MRSA so they will not be blamed if a patient claims they contacted MRSA while inpatient.

[fuzzywuzzy, CNA]

what are the symptoms of an active infection of mrsa in the lungs?

[Bocephus71RN-BSN, BSN, RN]

Most hospital have or will institute more stringent screening for this because medicare added more to their "never do" list which they no longer reimburse for hospital acquired infections. The hospitals will eat the cost for treatment. Now how many hospitals want to pay to treat a patient that acquired MRSA at the hospital when they may have already had it as a carrier or colonized when they were admitted?

[Epona]

Those are good precautions to know. I am in clinicals and will follow-up with my teacher on what you have told me... important to know exactly WHERE the MRSA is located.

Thank you all very much! Epona

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

MRSA can be latent (like Herpes, only bacterial) just waiting for an outbreak. It is common to a large part of the population. Many hospitals are now screening all admissions for MRSA so they will not be blamed if a patient claims they contacted MRSA while inpatient.

I have a question about this; I've asked about it at work and no one can seem to be able to answer it (surprise surprise). There are a couple of units that have started the practice of culturing every admission for MRSA. Of course, there will be some that are positive. If we are going to do this, shouldn't we have everyone on contact isolation until proven otherwise, rather than waiting for the cultures to come back positive? It takes a few days for cultures to come back, and in that time, they haven't been on precautions. When someone with an open wound comes in, we put them on precautions no matter what....so if we're checking everyone for MRSA, shouldn't we treat that the same way?

[EJSRN, BSN, RN]

if it is in the sputum then yes you can get it. If it is in a wound then no

[EJSRN, BSN, RN]

no. because if you are practicing standard precautions.. including handwashing this shouldn't be a problem. It wouldnt be very cost effective to put everyone in isolation for nothing.. and i think that is why hospitals wouldnt do that