Exploring What You Need to Know About MRSA

“Infection control” refers to evidence-based, practical policies and procedures that are implemented to prevent the transmission of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms. Its primary goal is to mitigate infection risk – and it is essential in every medical, surgical, and other healthcare setting. 

KEY INSIGHTS

• MRSA is an antibiotic-resistant disease-causing bacterium that is common in the community. It is not a high risk for most people who are otherwise healthy, but it can be very dangerous to vulnerable populations.
• Those most at risk from MRSA include hospital patients, people having surgery, people with skin wounds or injuries, the elderly, and people with other health conditions like cancer, HIV, and Hepatitis B or C.
• Infection control measures are essential to prevent the spread of MRSA, including handwashing, disinfection, and using latex or nitrile gloves appropriately in certain settings.

Humans are potentially exposed to an enormous number of harmful microorganisms that can cause disease. These include, but are not limited to:

1. Respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), pertussis (whooping cough), and tuberculosis
2. Gastrointestinal illnesses, including norovirus, rotavirus, and bacterial infections like E.coli and Salmonella
3. Bloodborne pathogens such as Hepatitis B & C, HIV, malaria, and syphilis

The risk from these disease-causing pathogens is considerably higher in settings where people are already unwell or injured. Close human contact or proximity, or a compromised skin surface (due to an injury or after surgery), dramatically increases the risk profile.

In a clinical setting, the most common infection of greatest concern to the community, from a medical standpoint, is MRSA.

What is MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is a type of bacteria that is commonly called “Golden Staph”. It is a type of bacteria that is especially prevalent in healthcare settings, and it has developed resistance to many antibiotics. This means that infections are extremely difficult to treat and cure; controlling their spread is also extremely challenging.  

MRSA is very common within the community. It is carried without symptoms by many people, and most who have the bacteria will never have an active infection caused by it.

MRSA lives on the skin and usually causes skin infections. Untreated, it can occasionally cause bacterial pneumonia and wound infections. If it enters the bloodstream, it can spread throughout the body and cause sepsis, which is life-threatening and a medical emergency. 

Who is at risk of MRSA Infection?

Anyone can catch MRSA. Most of these infections, however, arise in hospitals and settings like aged care facilities. People are most vulnerable if they have a cut, graze, scratch, open blister or sore, surgical wound, or another break in their skin.

When MRSA spreads in the community, it is usually via direct skin-to-skin contact with a contaminated wound. It can also occur indirectly through contact with contaminated clothing, towels, bed linen, razors, clippers, or touching another surface that has directly touched the infected skin.

In clinical settings, it can also be transmitted between patients and/or staff via contaminated wound dressings or hard surfaces such as taps, door handles, medical instruments, and furniture.

It’s also important to understand that the risk is higher in certain groups of people, including:

• The elderly, especially residents of aged care facilities
• Patients in the hospital
• People having or recovering from surgery
• People with joint replacement
• People with an implanted medical device (e.g. pacemaker, artificial heart valve)
• Those who are otherwise unwell
• People who are immunocompromised (e.g. due to cancer treatment or HIV infection)
• People who use IV drugs

MRSA is also more common in daycare centres, gyms and places where people use shared equipment, and barracks and dormitories.

Where is Infection Control Paramount?

Practical measures to reduce the risk of infection must be taken as a standard in:

• Hospitals
• Operating theatres and day surgeries
• Hospices
• Aged care facilities and nursing homes
• Medical centres
• Dental clinics
• Ambulances
• Pathology collection centres
• Medical laboratories

They should also be applied in:

• Beauty salons
• Nail salons
• Tattoo parlours
• Ear and body piercing

Strategies for Reducing Risk

1. Handwashing. This is crucial:
2. After using the toilet
3. Before eating/drinking
4. Whenever you have been out, especially visiting a medical facility, using public transport, or going to a shopping Centre.
5. Sanitise your hands where possible.
6. Shower (or take a bath) daily.
7. Change bed linen weekly and wash it in hot water.
8. Change bath towels twice weekly and wash them in hot water.
9. Never share bath towels, wash cloths, razors, or personal clippers.
10. Keep your home clean (your work environment as well). Make sure to clean and disinfect bathroom and kitchen surfaces regularly.
11. Wipe down handles of supermarket shopping trolleys or baskets with wet wipes or hand sanitizer before use.
12. Keep wounds covered (including cuts, grazes, scratches, burns, and broken blisters) until they heal. Clean and disinfect with a suitable product (ask your pharmacist) and change dressings frequently.
13. Use single-use disposable latex or nitrile gloves if you are caring for someone with an open wound (or if you have one) to protect both of you from cross-contamination.
14. Know the signs of a skin infection: redness, warmth, increased pain, swelling, or exudate (pus) and see your GP if these occur.

Summing Up…

We all have a role to play in risk management, for the health and well-being of ourselves, our families, and our community. Mitigating the risks of MRSA is critical. More information about this can be found at your state’s health department website.