What you must know about “MRSA”

MRSA, for its acronym in English, (SARM its acronym in Spanish) refers to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It is a bacterium that causes infections that are resistant to several common antibiotics. MRSA affects approximately one in three people causing skin problems.

There are two types of this infection:

Associated with health care – occurs in people who are in hospitals, health care centers or where they use an invasive medical device, such as urinary catheters, dialysis accesses, among others.
Acquired in the community- is presented in people who have direct and close contact with other people through cuts and abrasions through skin contact with skin. Example: contact sports, living in overcrowding and / or using intravenous drugs.

Measures to prevent MRSA infections in the community:

Wash hands with soap and water, if not use a disinfectant based on alcohol.
Keep the wounds covered until they heal.
Avoid contact with other people’s wounds and bandages.
Avoid sharing personal items (towels, razors, clothing, or sports equipment).
Take a shower after games or sports.
If you have a wound or sore, disinfect the sheets and all kinds of clothes used in water hot with chlorine and dry them in a heat dryer.
Whenever you visit a person in the hospital or health center, wash your hands with soap and water before and after leaving the room.
Check the instructions on the door of the room in case you must use gloves and protective robe during the visit.

Measures to prevent MRSA infections in the community:

Doctors, nurses and other health providers follow the precautions of contact washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based disinfectant before and after attending to each patient.
They wear gloves and a robe over their clothes while they care for patients.
They can test some patients to see if they have MRSA.