MRSA: Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus

What is it?
• Staphylococcus aureus are bacteria that commonly live on the skin of healthy people without causing illness
• Methicillin resistant Staphylococcos aureus (MRSA) are strains of Staphylococcus aureus that have become
resistant to a class of antibiotics including Methicillin and Cloxacillin
• MRSA can live on the skin and mucous membranes of adults without causing illness
(termed as “colonized”)

How is it spread?

• Directly from one person to another by contact with someone who is colonized or infected with MRSA
(MRSA is most commonly spread by the unclean hands of health care workers)
• Indirectly from contact with contaminated environmental surfaces and patient care equipment

Where is it found?
• On the skin of people who are colonized or infected
• Inside of the nose and other mucous membranes of colonized or infected people

Prevention and control
• Use contact precautions (in addition to routine practices) when caring for anyone carrying or suspected of carrying MRSA
• Provide a private room with dedicated toileting facilities for colonized/infected individuals (if a private room
is not available, cohort with another MRSA patient/resident)
• Clean hands well and often with alcohol based hand rub or soap and water
• Contain or cover draining wounds
• Wear gloves and gown for entering the patient room in acute care or for direct care of residents in long‐
term care (must be discarded before leaving the room)
• Dedicate patient/resident equipment or clean and disinfect equipment after each patient/resident use
• Clean and disinfect all high touch and horizontal surfaces in the room daily
• Inform the receiving department and staff involved in transport about the infection control precautions in use
• Ensure appropriate terminal cleaning of the room after discharge
• Discontinue precautions only at the direction of the infection prevention and control team