MRSA Patient Education
All patients with MRSA infection must receive comprehensive education on wound care, personal hygiene, environmental cleaning, and transmission prevention to reduce recurrence and protect household contacts. 1
Wound Management and Personal Hygiene
Keep all draining wounds covered with clean, dry bandages at all times. 1 This is the single most important measure to prevent transmission to others and environmental contamination.
Perform hand hygiene with soap and water or alcohol-based hand gel after every contact with infected skin or items that have touched a draining wound. 1 Regular bathing is essential to reduce bacterial load on the skin. 1
Never reuse or share personal items that have contacted infected skin, including disposable razors, linens, towels, clothing, or athletic equipment. 1 These items serve as fomites for transmission.
Wash all linens, towels, and clothing that contact the infection in hot water with detergent, and dry on the hottest setting. 1 This kills MRSA organisms on fabrics.
Environmental Cleaning Measures
Focus cleaning efforts on high-touch surfaces that come into frequent contact with bare skin daily, including counters, door knobs, bath tubs, toilet seats, light switches, and remote controls. 1 These surfaces are the primary environmental reservoirs for MRSA transmission.
Use commercially available household cleaners or detergents appropriate for each surface according to label instructions for routine cleaning. 1 Standard household cleaners are sufficient when used properly; specialized disinfectants are not required for home settings.
Clean high-touch surfaces at least daily while wounds are draining, and continue regular cleaning even after wounds heal. 1
Household Contact Evaluation and Management
All household contacts should be evaluated for signs of MRSA infection, including skin lesions, boils, or abscesses. 1 Early detection prevents progression to serious infection.
Symptomatic contacts must be evaluated by a healthcare provider and treated if infected; nasal and topical body decolonization may be considered after treating active infection. 1
Asymptomatic household contacts may be considered for nasal and topical body decolonization if recurrent transmission is occurring despite optimal hygiene measures. 1 This is not routinely recommended for all contacts.
Decolonization Strategies for Recurrent Infections
Decolonization should be considered only if you develop recurrent MRSA skin infections despite optimizing wound care and hygiene measures, or if ongoing transmission is occurring among household members despite these measures. 1
Decolonization regimens include intranasal mupirocin ointment applied twice daily for 5-10 days. 1 This targets the anterior nares, the most common carriage site.
Enhanced decolonization combines intranasal mupirocin twice daily for 5-10 days with topical body decolonization using chlorhexidine solution for 5-14 days or dilute bleach baths. 1 This addresses multiple body site colonization.
Decolonization must be offered in conjunction with ongoing reinforcement of hygiene measures, not as a replacement. 1 Hygiene remains the foundation of prevention.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Do not discontinue wound coverage or hygiene measures once symptoms improve but before wounds are completely healed. 1 Premature relaxation of precautions leads to recurrence and transmission.
Do not assume that completing antibiotic treatment means you are no longer colonized with MRSA. 1 Colonization can persist for months to years even after successful treatment of active infection.
Do not use antibacterial soaps or over-the-counter topical antibiotics for routine hygiene or prevention. 1 These promote resistance and are not more effective than regular soap and water for hand hygiene.
Return Precautions and Follow-Up
Seek immediate medical attention if you develop new skin lesions, worsening redness or swelling around existing wounds, fever, or signs of systemic illness. 1 These indicate potential treatment failure or new infection requiring evaluation.
Notify all healthcare providers (including dentists, surgeons, and primary care physicians) of your MRSA history before any procedures or hospitalizations. 1 This allows appropriate infection control precautions.