Methicillin Resistant Sthaphlococcus Aureus

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Methicillin Resistant Sthaphlococcus Aureus

• Here since the 1960s and still going strong!
• Betty N. Gormley, BSN, RN, CIC
• Gloucester County Department of Health Sr.
  Services

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What is it?

• Staphylococcus aureus is a bacteria that lives on
  the skin of all people.
• It lives there with about a dozen other bacteria.
• They live on dead skin cells and other nutrients
  that you find on skin.
• They rarely cause infections.

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How do you get it?

• Staphylococcus aureus (staph) is ubiquitous.. It
  is everywhere.
• Direct contact with the skin of other people is
  the easiest way to get staph.

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What does it do?

• Usually.. Nothing.
• But. It can cause infections
• on skin
• hair follicles
• It can rarely cause infections in deeper tissue
  like pneumonia and blood poisoning
• Most of those happen to immune compromised
  people.

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What is a carrier?

• A carrier is someone who has MRSA on their skin,
  but who does not have an active infection.

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Can I work if I have MRSA?

• Workers with open or draining wounds can work if
  the wound can be covered.

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How do you control it?

• MRSA is difficult to control and even more
  difficult to eradicate.
• Good personal hygiene
• Handwashing
• Personal protective equipment (gloves sometimes
  gowns)
• Environmental cleaning
• laundry terminal cleaning

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How do you treat MRSA

• MRSA can be treated with antibiological agents
  that are not derived or related to penicillin.
• Health Care Providers who are aware of community
  levels of MRSA are more likely to treat early
  with appropriate drugs.
• If a skin infection doesnt improve on
  penicillin-like drugs, you need to be
  re-evaluated

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HOW DO YOU TREAT MRSA

• At this point it is important to point out that
  all skin infections are not MRSA
• It is important to remember that all breaks in
  the skin do not require antibiotic treatment.
• In fact, this can be harmful and lead to further
  resistance.

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MORE INFORMATION

• www.cdc.gov
• www.state.nj.us/health
• Enter MRSA on the search bar on those pages.