Managing MRSA in an acute setting includes a multifaceted approach with key components: Identification and Diagnosis:
- Clinical assessment of symptoms and medical history.
- Laboratory testing of patient samples (e.g., nasal swabs, blood) for MRSA.
Isolation:
- Placement of patients in single rooms or cohorting with designated staff.
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and gowns by healthcare workers.
Treatment:
- Use of antibiotics effective against MRSA, such as vancomycin, daptomycin, or linezolid.
- Decolonization therapy may include nasal cream and antibacterial washes.
Infection Control Measures:
- Rigorous hand hygiene by healthcare workers, patients, and visitors.
- Environmental cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and medical equipment.
- Contact precautions to prevent spread, including minimizing staff contacts.
Monitoring and Surveillance:
- Regular monitoring of patient response to treatment.
- Screening contacts and patients in the same area for MRSA.
- Infection prevention programs including education, outbreak monitoring, and antimicrobial stewardship.
Additional procedures include risk assessments on admission, screening of high-risk and transferred patients, minimizing patient overcrowding, maintaining staffing levels, and isolating or cohorting MRSA cases promptly to prevent transmission.
