Don't overreact to threat of MRSA
But don't let employees be needlessly exposed, either
Do you assume that employees with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections need to be routinely excluded from work? This is not necessary, according to Rachel Gorwitz, MD, MPH, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Healthcare Quality and Promotion.
"Exclusion from work, or from selected activities, should be considered for employees with skin infections only if they cannot keep their infected skin adequately covered during the activity in question," she says.
Once a problem solely for hospitals, MRSA has emerged in community strains that often are initially thought to be "spider bites" or boils. The employee also must adhere to appropriate wound care practices, including washing hands after dressing changes and disposing of used bandages appropriately. Employees with MRSA put others at risk if they have open, uncovered breaks or cuts in the skin, have frequent skin-to-skin contact, share personal items that could become contaminated with wound drainage, or fail to practice good hygiene.
"Employees working in environments where these factors are present would be at greatest risk of acquiring MRSA," says Gorwitz.
Nurses should use standard infection control precautions when seeing patients with skin infections, emphasizes Gorwitz. This includes performing hand hygiene before and after patient contact and using gloves, gowns, and/or eye protection for anticipated contact with wound drainage or other body fluids.
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An MRSA primer for your nurses Nurses should be aware that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing an increasing proportion of staph infections in the community, says Rachel Gorwitz, MD, MPH, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are important facts to know:
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How to prevent spread of MRSA
Consider these steps to prevent spread of MRSA in the workplace, according to Gorwitz:
- Educate employees on the signs and symptom of infection and the importance of seeking care early for skin infections.
- Review company policies regarding sick employees and return-to-work issues.
- Instruct employees to keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered, avoid contact with other persons' wound drainage, and wash hands regularly.
- Ensure availability of adequate soap and clean towels.
- Educate employees on appropriate wound care and containment for infected skin.
- Ensure that routine housekeeping is followed.
- Perform targeted cleaning of surfaces or equipment that are frequently touched by bare skin or that come into contact with infected skin.
- Protect difficult-to-clean common use surfaces, such as computer keyboards, with covers that can easily be removed and cleaned.
Source
For more information on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the workplace, contact:
- Rachel Gorwitz, MD, MPH, Medical Epidemiologist, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta. E-mail: [email protected].
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