Sources: Information taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/, www.infectiousdisease.dhh.louisiana.gov
What is Staphylococcus aureus (staph)?
Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized, when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection, in the nose with staph bacteria. Sometimes, staph can cause an infection. Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections, such as: surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.
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What is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)?
Some staph bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to antibiotics called beta-lactams. Beta-lactam antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA.
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Who gets staph or MRSA infections?
Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and health care facilities, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers, who have weakened immune systems. These health care-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.
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What is community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)?
Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and health care facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently hospitalized or had a medical procedure are know as CA-MRSA infections. Recently, various places in the United States and abroad, there have been new outbreaks of MRSA in correctional facilities. Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.
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How common are staph and MRSA infections?
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infection in the United States and are a common cause of pneumonia, surgical wound infections, and bloodstream infections. The majority of MRSA infections occur among patients in hospitals or other health care settings; however, it is becoming more common in the community setting. Data from a prospective study in 2003, suggests that 12% of clinical MRSA infections are community-associated, but this varies by geographic region and population.
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What does a staph or MRSA infection look like?
Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections.
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Are certain people at increased risk for community-associated staph or MRSA infections?
CDC has investigated clusters of CA-MRSA skin infections among athletes, military recruits, children, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, men who have sex with men, and prisoners.
Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.
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Is MRSA a problem for prison health care and guards?
There are several reasons why prison staff are becoming more concerned about MRSA.
(1) Through out the USA, MRSA infections are becoming more common in community settings, including prisons.
(2) Staph, (including MRSA) is spread by direct contact. In prison settings, there are many opportunities for direct contact among inmates.
(3) A MRSA outbreak can cause much anxiety for inmates and staff and MRSA infections can vary widely in severity
(4) Identifying a MRSA infection can be difficult because the symtoms of MRSA infection are similar to those of other skin infections.
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How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?
Practice good hygiene:
1. Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people's wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
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What should I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection?
See your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible.
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Are staph and MRSA infections treatable?
Yes. Most staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time.
However, many staph skin infections may be treated by draining the abscess or boil and may not require antibiotics. Drainage of skin boils or abscesses should only be done by a health care provider.
If after visiting your health care provider the infection is not getting better after a few days, contact them again. If other people you know or live with get the same infection tell them to go to their health care provider.
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If I have a staph, or MRSA skin infection, what can I do to prevent others from getting infected?
You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these steps:
1. Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your health care provider's instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph and MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash.
2. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound.
3. Do not share personal items. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms that may have had contact with the infected wound or bandage. Wash sheets, towels, and clothes that become soiled with water and laundry detergent.
4. Drying clothes in a hot dryer, rather than air-drying, also helps kill bacteria in clothes.
5. Talk to your doctor. Tell any health care providers who treat you that you have or had a staph or MRSA skin infection.
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What resources should the prison make available to staff and inmates to prevent the spread of MRSA?
All employees and inmates should have ample access to soap, water and clean towels. In addition, commercial disinfectants or bleach solutions should be used to daily clean equipment or other parts of the facility, especially those that have come in contact with an infected inmate. Also soiled laundry should be carried in a plastic or waterproof container and hands should be washed thoroughly after handling any laundry.
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As a prison employee, what should you do to prevent/aid in the treatment of sick inmates?
(1) If you observe inmates with open draining wounds or infections, refer the inmate to the prison health care provider.
(2) Enforce hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers( if available) before eating and after using the bathroom.
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What employment law does MRSA fall under?
MRSA falls under the Pennsylvania Occupational Disease Act of 1939 (P.L. 566, No. 284). This act states the legal requirements for proving an occupational disease for the purpose of Workers' Compensation. These requirements are as follows: The injury includes diseases caused by and related to employment.
Also the employee must prove the following:
(1) Exposure to the disease by reason of the employment
(2) The disease is industry related.
(3) There is a substantially greater incidence of the disease in the industry/location as opposed to the general population.
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Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/, www.infectiousdisease.dhh.louisiana.gov
