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MRSA
BENTONVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Last Updated: 11/29/07
WHAT IS MRSA?
“MRSA” stands for Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus.
– Some people call it “MURsah”
WHAT IS MRSA?
Methicillin (an antibiotic)
Resistant (no longer works)
Staphylococcus aureus (a common bacterium)
Is Staphylococcus aureus
the same as “staph”?
Staphylococcus aureus is one of
many species of staph.
When we talk about MRSA and
staph in this presentation we will
use the word “staph”.
Does staph always
make people sick?
No, people live with staph bacteria
in their nose and on their skin
without getting sick.
When staph makes us sick,
how does it happen?
A staph infection can start when
there is an opening in the skin that
allows staph bacteria to enter the
body and start the infection
process.
What does a staph infection
look like?
Staph can vary
considerably in
appearance.
It may start out looking
like a pimple, boil, or
rash.
The infection often
contains pus. It may
be swollen or red.
What does a staph infection
look like?
What does a staph infection
look like?
What does a staph infection
look like?
More serious
infections may
cause pneumonia,
bloodstream
infections, or
surgical wound
infections
What does a staph infection
look like?
What does a staph infection
look like?
How does staph spread?
People
spread staph
by direct skinto-skin
contact.
How else does staph spread?
Staph also lives on
surfaces and
spreads when you
touch contaminated
objects or surfaces
and then touch
something else.
How do I protect myself?
Wash your hands
with soap and
water as often as
possible to break
the cycle of
contamination.
How to wash your hands:
1. Wet your hands with warm water.
2. Apply a generous amount of soap.
3. Wash palms, backs of hands, wrists, fingers and under fingernails.
Rub hands for 20 seconds.
(20 seconds is singing Happy Birthday twice)
4. Rinse hands. (Turn faucet on using paper towel).
5. Dry hands with a new paper towel.
6. Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
What else will protect me from
staph?
Wear disposable gloves
when appropriate
What else will protect me from
staph?
Bathe or shower every day
– This will reduce the amount of
bacteria on your skin.
Keep your fingernails cut short
– Less bacteria can grow under
short nails.
See your Doctor Immediately
If you have:
 Swelling
 Pain
 Redness
or red streaks
radiating from the
wound site
 Fever
 General
ill feeling
See your Doctor Immediately
If you find that staph
infection is passing
from one family
member to another,
or
If 2 or more family
members get a
staph infection at
the same time.
What are the signs of infection?
• Pus
• Tenderness
• Swelling
• Redness
• Warmth of the
Skin
Your doctor may prescribe
Warm compresses
Incision and drainage
– (I&D) the doctor
may cut and
drain the
abscess
Antibiotics
Or a combination of
the above
I Have a Staph Infection
Keep your staph infection
covered with a clean,
dry bandage.
Change the bandage at
least twice a day or
when it becomes wet
from drainage.
I Have a Staph Infection
How To Change Your Bandage
What You Need:
– Gloves-disposable
– Soap & running water
– Bandage/gauze
– Plastic trash bag
Taking Care of Wounds that are Draining or Have Not Healed
How to change your bandage:
Gather your supplies





Plastic trash bag
Plastic gloves
Soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
Bandage
Q-tip
Wash your hands with soap and warm water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Put on clean gloves just before touching the skin around the wound.
Follow the directions from the nurse or doctor for changing the bandage.
Throw away used bandages in the trash bag.
Throw away any dirty supplies, such as Q-tips, in the trash bag.
Take off the plastic gloves and put them in the trash bag.
Close the trash bag and put the bag in the common garbage.
Wash hands again with soap and hot water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Put on clean gloves.
Apply new dressing.
While changing your bandage:
Don’t touch other parts of your body.
Don’t touch your surroundings-bed, sink, faucet.
Don’t touch another person.
When to change your bandage:
As often as the doctor or nurse tell you-at least twice a day.
Anytime you can see pus or drainage on the bandage.
I Have a Staph Infection
Wash
your
hands
before
and after
changing
bandages.
Yes, we know you were wearing gloves, still…wash your hands before and after.
REMEMBER
Hand washing is the most
effective way to stop the
spread of infectious disease.
STAPH
Don’t take it home with you.
Cleaning Surfaces Contaminated
with Staph
Classrooms
Bathrooms
Lunchrooms
Staph on Clothes*
Staph can live on any kind of cloth:
– uniforms
– towels
– wash cloths
*S.aureus and MRSA has been found to survive on cotton fabric for 3 months
Laundry
Chlorine bleach is the best way
to kill germs in the laundry.
Use chlorine bleach in your
wash when possible.
– 6 ounces ( ¾ ) cup bleach
to a standard size washer
Laundry
Time wash cycle for at
least twenty minutes.
Load clothes loosely in
the washer so that they
can move freely during
the wash cycle.
The amount of motion and the length of washing time both help remove bacteria
from clothing at any water temperature.
Disinfecting Bathrooms &
Surfaces
Cleaning surfaces with detergent-based
cleaners or an Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)-registered
disinfectant according to the
manufacturer’s instructions is
effective at removing MRSA from the
environment.
www.healthyarkansas.com
Cleaning
Please follow the MRSA Cleaning Procedure.
When MRSA skin infections occur, cleaning and disinfection
should be performed on surfaces that are likely to contact
uncovered or poorly covered infections.
It is important to read the instruction labels on all cleaners to
make sure they are used safely and appropriately.
Environmental cleaners and disinfectants should not be used to
treat infections.
The EPA provides a list of EPA-registered products effective
against MRSA:
http://epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm
Protection When Staff or Students
are Infected
Keep your hands clean by washing with soap
and warm water or using an alcohol hand gel.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with
a bandage until healed.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or
bandages.
Avoid sharing personal items such as make-up,
towels or razors.
Questions?
Please visit the website below for more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/features/mrsainschools/
http://www.healthyarkansas.com/mrsa/pdf/fact_sheet_schools.pdf
Email Steve Potts, Executive Director of Human Resources:
[email protected]