Hospital-Acquired MRSA
Monday, March 10, 2008

Antibiotic resistant staph infections are becoming an epidemic both in the hospital and in the community setting.  Dr. Ken Davis discusses precautions you should take in today’s 60 second housecall.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  There are two types of MRSA infection: Hospital-associated and Community-associated.

Community-acquired MRSA happens when people get this staph infection in the community.  Unfortunately, the community acquired infection is dramatically increasing.

Many of the hospitalized patients have MRSA on their skin when they enter the hospital.  This is especially true if they have been hospitalized within the past year and have been taking multiple antibiotics.

The main mode of transmission of MRSA to other patients is through human hands.

To prevent the spread of MRSA in hospitals, both staff and visitors should take these precautions.

-  Don’t visit a hospitalized patient unless absolutely necessary.  Send a card, e-mail, or make a telephone call.

-  Wash your hands when entering and leaving a hospital room, and

-  Do not visit or care for a patient if you have skin infections such as boils or draining wounds.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.