Download A booklet for patients and their relatives explaining about MRSA

If you would like a written or taped translation of this information
please contact, Service Equality on 0116 258 4382.
MRSA
A booklet for patients and their relatives
explaining about MRSA
Haddaad rabto warqadan oo turjuman oo ku duuban cajalad ama
qoraal ah fadlan la xiriir, Maamulaha Adeegga Sinaanta 0116 258
4382
Updated: April 2004
INTRODUCTION
This leaflet has been written to explain MRSA to you and your
relatives.
You can contact an infection control nurse at the hospital
Monday – Friday during office hours. If no one is in the office
leave a message and they will return your call
GLENFIELD HOSPITAL
Infection Control Nurses
WHAT IS MRSA?
The full name for MRSA is Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus
aureus.
0116 256 3573
LEICESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL
Infection Control Nurses
0116 258 4456
It is a germ/bacteria that usually lives harmlessly on many
people’s skin and in their noses without causing any infection.
However if it spreads to a wound or into the blood, it can cause
an infection.
LEICESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY
Infection Control Nurses
0116 258 5448
It can live on people’s skin more easily if there is a rash, a cut or
a sore.
COMMUNITY HOSPITALS
In some people who are unwell, especially if they have wounds or
long courses of antibiotics to treat other infections, it can cause
boils and wound infections
If you would like to speak to an infection control nurse regarding
MRSA in a community hospital please ring 0116 263 4416. If no
one is in the office leave a message and they will return your call
WHY IS MRSA IMPORTANT?
Special care is taken with MRSA germs when they are found on
patients in hospital because some antibiotics do not kill the
germs. Therefore these germs are more difficult to treat if they do
cause an infection.
IS MRSA DANGEROUS?
Some people who have MRSA have it in long standing wounds,
eg pressure sores and leg ulcers, and although it is present, they
usually do not suffer any ill effects from this germ. However, if
MRSA occurs in a deep operation wound, this may cause an
infection that needs treatment, with certain antibiotics.
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FINALLY
IS MRSA HARMFUL TO PREGNANCY?
After reading this leaflet if you still have any worries or concerns
about MRSA, please do not hesitate to ask your nurse, or ask to
speak to an Infection Control Nurse.
No.
This leaflet has been prepared by the Infection Control Teams in
Leicestershire. Should you wish to contact one of them, the
telephone numbers are on the following page.
It is often not clear where you contracted MRSA. The germ can
be found in the community as well as in hospitals.
HOW DID I GET MRSA AND WHERE FROM?
HOW CAN YOU TELL WHO HAS MRSA?
Patients who have MRSA do not feel or look any different.
It can only be found by growing the germ from swabs or samples
taken from you, (nose, skin, wound, sputum, urine).
HOW DOES MRSA SPREAD?
The germs can spread easily from one patient to another. They
spread by sticking to the hands or clothes of staff or patients and
are then passed to the next person they touch. To prevent this
from happening you may have noticed that staff wash their hands
more frequently. It would also help if you could also wash your
hands when you leave the room/bed space as this will help to
prevent the germ spreading.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME NOW?
Your doctor or nurse will discuss this with you. The infection
control team will have advised those caring for you if you require
nursing in a sideroom, or special measures around your bed
space, to reduce the risk of spreading MRSA to others.
The infection control team will also have advised the nurses
caring for you if it is necessary to take samples from you to find
out where the germ is present.
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WHY IS IT NECESSARY FOR NURSES, DOCTORS, TO WEAR
GLOVES AND APRONS?
As MRSA can easily be passed from patient to patient, staff wear
gloves and aprons to reduce the risk of the spread of MRSA.
MAY I HAVE VISITORS?
Yes.
Your visitors do not need to wear disposable plastic aprons or
gloves but all visitors should clean their hands when leaving the
sideroom, or ward. They can wash their hands or clean their
hands with alcohol hand rub.
WILL MORE SAMPLES BE TAKEN?
Your nurse may take more swabs or specimens from you to
check if the MRSA germ is still present.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I AM DISCHARGED HOME?
Your nurse will provide you with a yellow card which lets people
know that you have been identified as an MRSA patient. If you
are being readmitted to hospital or coming to outpatients please
bring this card with you, or tell the nurses and doctors you have
had MRSA in the past.
Your GP will have been informed by letter about your MRSA. If
you have a District Nurse will you please let them know as well.
If you are at all worried, please discuss your situation with the
nurse looking after you. If you would like to talk to an Infection
Control Nurse, please ask your nurse to arrange this.
MRSA is not a problem to healthy people, there is no need for
you to avoid contact with friends and family including babies or
children.
WHAT TREATMENT WILL I RECEIVE?
WHAT HAPPENS TO ME IN THE FUTURE?
You may be asked to use a liquid antiseptic soap for daily
washes/showers/bath.
Sometimes it is possible that the bacteria (germ) will appear
again particularly if you are unwell and have needed more
courses of antibiotics. Sometimes it re-appears for no apparent
reason. Because of this, should you attend or be admitted to any
hospital, please inform the staff that you have had MRSA
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The antiseptic soap may cause skin irritation. To reduce
this, you should wet your skin before applying, and ensure
you rinse the antiseptic soap off well.
In addition to the liquid antiseptic soap you may be asked to use
an antibiotic ointment in your nose (as many germs live in the
nose).
•
It may be necessary to nurse you in a single room or take special
measures around your bedspace and for the staff to wear plastic
aprons and disposable gloves.
The antibiotic ointment is applied to each nostril, 3 times a
day. To apply the ointment, place a small amount on to a
cotton bud or your little finger and insert into each nostril.
Then pinch the nostril. Always make sure you wash your
hands after applying the ointment.
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