Infection control methods for MRSA
| Method | Comment |
|---|---|
| Screening | |
| Patients | Effective if followed by isolation, cost effective for threshold values |
| Staff | Rates low, expensive |
| Handwashing | Effective, compliance poor |
| Antimicrobials | |
| Topical agents | Mupirocin widely used, effective, resistance occurs |
| Systemic | Resistance if use commonly used agents, other (rifampin and fusidic acid) with side effects |
| Body cleansing | Certain agents effective (povidone iodine, chlorhexidine, triclosan) |
| Cohorting of patients | |
| Complete separation/ward closure | Nurses required to take care of a variety of patients, effective, disruptive |
| Single room isolation | Variable effectiveness, blocks of rooms may be helpful |
| Preidentification of carriers and previously infected patients | With total isolation, effective |
| Gowns | No proved value |
| Gloves | Effective if changed between patients |
| Environmental cleaning | Not effective in slowing outbreaks |