Biological Hazards Staph and MRSA Infections UCOP October

Biological Hazards: Staph and MRSA Infections UCOP October 2008 Safety Meeting

Biological Hazards § Periodically Discuss Various Biological Hazards § Routes of Exposure § Preventive Measures § Selected Biological Hazards § Staph and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Staph and MRSA § Staph – Bacteria § Infections Ranging from Skin boils to Severe Blood Infections § MRSA § Type of Staph Resistant to Certain Antibiotics § Two Major Types § Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA) § Community Associated (CA-MRSA)

MRSA § Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA) § Persons in Hospitals & Health Care Facilities § Recent Medical Procedures – Dialysis, Surgery, Catheters § Nursing Homes - Persons with Weaken Immune Systems § Community-Associated (CA-MRSA) § Most Common Type of Soft Tissue Infection Seen in Outpatient Setting § Focus on CA-MRSA in This Presentation

Staph and MRSA Bacteria § Can Live on the Skin and/or Nose of Healthy Individuals without Causing Any Symptoms of Disease § Injury to Skin (Scrape or Cut) § Allow Staph or MRSA Bacteria to Enter Skin and Cause an Infection

Who Gets CA-MRSA § Close Contact with an Infected Person § Direct Physical Contact (Not Through the Air) with an Infected Person § Indirect Contact – Touching Objects Contaminated with the MRSA Bacteria § Towels, Sheets, Wound Dressings, Clothes, Razors § Workout Areas or Sports Equipment

MRSA Infections § Usually Mild, Limited to the Surface of the Skin § Treated with Proper Hygiene and Antibiotics § If Left Untreated or Not Recognized Early § Can Be Difficult to Treat § Can Progress to Life-Threatening Blood or Bone Infections

Staph and MRSA § Usually First Look Like Spider Bites or Red Bumps Which Become Swollen & Painful § May Fill with Pus

Incidents of CA-MRSA § Athletic Settings § Close Personal Contact – Wrestling & Football § Equipment – Workout Equipment, Gym Mats, Uniforms § Personal Items –Towels, Razors, Clothes § Schools, Dormitories, Military Barracks, Correctional Facilities,

Five “C’s” – Make MRSA Easier to Spread § Crowding § Frequent Skin-to-Skin Contact § Compromised Skin (Cuts, Abrasions) § Contaminated Items/Surfaces § Lack of Cleanliness

Prevent Spreading of MRSA § Wash Hands Often or Use Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer § Keep Cuts & Scrapes Clean and Covered with Bandages § Do Not Touch Other People’s Cuts or Bandages § Do Not Share Personal Items (Towels or Razors) § Wipe Down Gym Equipment Before and After Use