If you have MRSA while in hospital

MRSA is a bacterium that has developed resistance to several antibiotics. It is a germ that has developed in hospitals partly because of widespread use and overuse of antibiotics. Control of MRSA is directed at limiting spread by detecting, isolating and treating patients carrying or infected by MRSA.

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Will I need to be in a side room?

People known to have MRSA or thought to be carrying it may be nursed in a side room to reduce the amount of contact with other ward users. In some areas this may not be necessary as the risk to other patients is much less. There will be a notice on the door informing everyone that special precautions need to be taken.

Regardless of whether patients are in a side room or in a main bay staff will be encouraged to observe good hygiene measures such as hand washing and use of aprons and gloves for close nursing contact, thereby lowering the risk of spreading the germ.

Being nursed in an isolation room can be lonely and it takes away a person’s freedom. Staff are aware of this and will endeavor to respond to the needs of the patient and ensure all aspects of their care are discussed with them and questions answered.

Relatives and visitors can also ensure that you have some company by visiting you. If your doctor agrees, and you are well enough, it may be possible to go for a walk in the grounds of the hospital to ease the feelings of being shut in a small room. Having said this, it is also important that you have adequate rest periods to recover from your illness.

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I am due to have an operation, will I still be able to have it?

If the surgery is planned the surgeon will have the final say on whether it can take place. Many factors are considered, such as the type of surgery to be undertaken and how vital the operation is. Sometimes the person is admitted routinely but the operation is delayed for a few days while treatment for MRSA is given.

If a person needs an operation as a matter of urgency, the surgeon will consider the risks and advise accordingly.

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Will my relatives and visitors catch MRSA?

There is a slight possibility that visitors can pick up MRSA on their hands, which is why we ask all visitors to the ward to wash their hands after visiting. This helps to reduce the chance of picking it up.

If everyone practices good basic hygiene, people with MRSA are not a risk to other healthy people, babies, children and pregnant mothers.

If visitors are under the weather themselves it may not be a good idea to visit, as they could be more open to catching other infections or they could pass their infection on to others. Ideally any open cuts should be covered with a dressing. It is also advised that visitors do not visit anybody else in hospital after seeing a person with MRSA to reduce the chance of transferring the germ to others accidentally.

Staff can advise visitors if they or the patient are unsure so please ask.

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Do my visitors need to put gloves and aprons on when visiting me?

Visitors do not have the hands–on contact that nurses do, such as changing dressings or contact with body fluids. Therefore there is no need for them to wear aprons or gloves when visiting their relative or friend.

In areas such as Intensive Care, relatives may be asked to wear aprons and gloves when visiting a loved one that has MRSA. This is because relatives use a waiting area that is shared by all visitors. Wearing these protective items of clothing helps to reduce the incidence of cross–infection (transferring the germ to other people).

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Will my care or treatment be affected?

Your care and treatment will continue the same whether you are in a single room or out in the main ward area. The usual routine of the ward will involve you as much as possible.

If the room does not have an ensuite shower room or toilet the ward will aim to allocate a designated bathroom for your use. This may mean telling staff when you have finished with the shower so that it can be cleaned.

Hospital staff who need to see you as part of your treatment will continue to do so. Domestic staff will continue to come into the room daily to carry out a general clean. Meals, drinks, magazines and newspapers will be delivered to you as requested.

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What precautions do staff take to reduce the risk of spreading MRSA?

When carrying out treatment or assisting you in any way staff will be wearing gloves and a plastic apron. These are thrown away after each patient use.

Hands are washed thoroughly after removal of these items and before leaving the room. If the nurse has just brought something in for you and isn’t staying with you, it is adequate for them not to wear the protective clothing and to use the alcohol gel on their hands instead of washing.

Equipment that is used in the room stays in the room until it is no longer required. It is then thoroughly cleaned before being taken out.

When a patient is discharged from the ward, the room and all of the contents are given a thorough deep clean and disinfection by the hospital’s cleaning staff.

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Will having MRSA delay my discharge from hospital?

If you are carrying the germ on your skin without it causing an infection there should be no delay to your discharge home.

One situation where your discharge from hospital may be delayed is if you are being transferred to another hospital where high–risk procedures are carried out, such as brain surgery. A delay may happen whilst the receiving hospital arranges a single room for you.

When there is an infection present the duration of the hospital stay may be prolonged. One reason for this is the antibiotics that are used often need to be given in through a drip into the bloodstream, which cannot be done at home.

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