Treatment of MRSA infections

Treatment of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infections has always been a problem, even for experts in this field. Even now, there is neither an effective treatment nor evidence-based recommendations for the eradication of this Staphylococcus type!
 
Some MRSA infections can progress to serious and possibly life-threatening infections and these infections may require intravenous antibiotic treatment.
 
However, there is something called the  “interim guidance” that should point a health provider to do everything in his power to treat the infection.

Some of these instructions are:
 

• Incision, drainage, and localized care are the first line of treatment
• Management of skin lesions and selective use of antibiotics should be continued even if the MRSA is found in the lesions
• Initial treatment should start with medications that are used normally against Staphylococcus Aureus such as cephalexin or dicloxacillin. If the bacterium shows to be resistant of classical therapy, the culture and resistance test should be done in order to find an effective medication
• In patients with recurrent and serious MRSA infection, or in families with many affected members, some experts would consider attempting eradication of MRSA colonization. In such cases, Bactroban or Rifampin, in conjunction with another antibiotic effective against MRSA, may be helpful
• Good hygiene practices with patients which includes hand washing, washing of the contaminated items with warm water and soap, and proper disposal of the contaminated bandages and wound coverings
• Patients that have urinary catheter installed and their health providers should also follow some special instructions:
• Urinary catheters should be changed only when necessary
• Closed drainage system should be maintain
• Drainage bags should be kept off the floor. Use a separate container for collection of urine from each patient. Container should be disinfected after each use.
• Wash and dry toughly the patient’s perineal area minimum of once per day or anytime it becomes soiled.
• Secure the catheter to the patient to avoid tension on it.
• Hands should be washed after manipulating the catheter or collecting urine

Isolation of the patients

This can vary from hospital to hospital. In some hospitals, especially if they are smaller ones, patients with MRSA may have to be isolated, and in some, this isn’t necessary.

Isolations are needed especially if the infection is in a wound that is draining or in the lungs and they are coughing. In most cases, all the patients, which are diagnosed with these strains of bacteria, may be placed in a same room with other patients that also have MRSA.

Prevention of MRSA infection

There are several standard infection control precautions and some of them are:
 

• Gloving – Gloves should be on hands all the time, especiallywhen touching blood, body fluids and contaminated items.
• Hand washing – Hands should be washed immediately after gloves are removed, between contacts with patients and other common daily tasks and procedures.
• Masking – Masks should be wore during all procedures that are likely to produce splashes or droplets of blood and body fluids.
• Patient care – several hygiene measures such as appropriate cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of patient care equipment are very important as some of the best limiting factors for the transmission.
• Antibiotics usage – Usage of antibiotics that aren’t necessary should be avoided!

If you are already diagnosed with MRSA infection, there are several things you could do to prevent it from spreading to other people:
 

• Keep infections covered with clean, dry bandages.
• You must follow your doctor’s instructions for collecting the pus from the wound because it can also contain the bacteria
• Wash hands after touching the infected skin and bandages
• Dressings and bandages should always be placed in a separate trash bag, which should be closed before throwing out with the regular garbage.
• Do not share any personal items including towels, washcloth, razor, clothing, or uniforms
• Drying clothes in a hot dryer instead of air-drying is recommended because it is more deadly for the bacteria
• All contact sports or other skin-to-skin contacts including sexual contact should be avoided until the infection has treated and healed.
• Avoid using unnecessary antibiotics.