Download MRSA Staph Infections

MRSA STAPH INFECTIONS:
Donald L. Trussell
Office of Safety / Loss Control
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/admin/safety/index.htm
Reproduced from Article by Mark Christensen ,“Occupational Health & Safety,” April 2007
WHAT DOES MRSA STAND FOR?
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant
Staphylococcusaureus Aureus (commonly
pronounced mersa).
HISTORY OF MRSA
MRSA used to be found only in
hospitals. But as a result of 50
years of prescribing penicillinrelated antibiotics for infections,
the bacteria that cause staph
infections have mutated and grown
resistant to common antibiotics.
MRSA THE SUPERBUG
Those resistant bacteria, MRSA,
have presented themselves in the
form of a new “SUPER BUG” that
has moved quickly into the general
public and is much more difficult
to kill than previous staph bacteria.
WHAT IS CA- MRSA?
The MRSA being discussed here is
referred to as community-acquired
MRSA (CA-MRSA).
There is also hospital-acquired
MRSA (HA-MRSA).
The Centers for Disease Control
says that community-acquired
MRSA is “most often present as a
skin or soft tissue infection such as
a boil or abscess.”
Sixty Percent of pus forming skin
infections seen in hospital
emergency rooms across the
country are caused by MRSA.
If not treated immediately, MRSA
staph infections can infect the heart
and lungs and cause pneumonia or
even death.
If the lungs become infected,
symptoms such as shortness of
breath, chills and fever could
appear.
CA-MRSA CAN OCCUR IN:
 Otherwise
healthy, non-hospitalized
individuals
 Children
 Prisoner Populations
 Athletic Populations
 Public Pools
HOW DOES MRSA SPREAD?
The CDC says MRSA is
transmitted most frequently by
direct skin-to-skin contact.
Therefore,
something
as
Staph bacteria
can liveasonsimple
the skin.
shaking
hands
can spread
the
Therefore,
something
as simple
as
bacteria.
shaking hands can spread the
bacteria.
MRSA can also be contracted from:
Hard Surfaces such as walls and floors…
Elevator Buttons…
Copy Machines…
Shopping Carts…
All have the potential to host the
spiteful bacteria.
Ways to Protect Yourself Against MRSA
Any situation where large groups of
people live, work or congregate may
be breeding grounds for bacteria,
including MRSA, so:
Wash Your Hands
Treat cuts, scrapes, and abrasions
immediately.
Shower after physical activity.
Properly clean tools, gear, and
equipment.
Avoid contact with other people’s
wounds or bandages.
Wipe down all gym equipment
before and after use.
Avoid sharing personal items such as
towels or razors.
Learning about MRSA and taking
preventative steps in the workplace,
and at home, can help to turn the
tide in the war against MRSA
infections.
MAKE SAFETY A HABIT!