What is MRSA?

MRSA stands for Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and is a bacterium from the staphylococcus aureus family. Most of the time MRSA sits on the skin without causing a problem but if it enters the body through a cut or abrasion it may cause an infection. MRSA is a germ that has gained resistance to some antibiotics that are commonly used to treat infection. This means that in some cases it has become more difficult to treat as not all antibiotics that are commonly used to treat infection work properly against it.

What are the Leeds Teaching Hospitals doing to prevent MRSA?

MRSA is a global problem and is a major challenge. However, it can be controlled and we are committed to doing everything we can to prevent the spread of it in our hospitals.

Some of the steps we have taken include:

• Employing infection prevention and control nurses to educate staff and check the levels of infection within the hospitals.
• Teaching all health care workers good infection control practice from the time they start working in the hospitals.
• Providing good hand hygiene facilities for staff and visitors. These include hand rubs that can kill germs (usually they are a kind of gel).
• Screening all elective patients when they come into hospital for MRSA so we can identify if they are colonised with the bacteria. By identifying patients colonised with MRSA from the community we can then take steps to prevent the risk of it coming into the hospitals.

Our domestic service teams also play a vital part in the control, prevention and spread of infection, through making sure the wards and departments are kept clean. As you can see, combating MRSA is a team effort that involves staff from all the hospitals. Patients and visitors can also play a role.

How do we screen for MRSA?

The swab is just like a big cotton wool bud. This will not cause you any pain and only takes a few minutes to do. The swabs will be taken from your nose, your armpits and your groin (area of skin between your legs). Samples may also be taken from any areas of sore or broken skin that you may have or any existing lines, catheters or stoma sites. These results are not available immediately as the swabs have to be processed in a laboratory.

What happens if the screening is negative?

If your screening results are negative you will not be contacted and will not require any treatment.

What happens if the swab is positive?

You will be contacted by letter to inform you of your positive result.

PLEASE DO NOT WORRY if your results are positive. You will be asked to start a treatment programme, which needs to be used for 5 days. This will include an antiseptic body wash for your whole body including your hair and a cream to put in your nose three times a day.

This will make sure that we have reduced the possibility of the MRSA germ causing you and others any problems during your hospital stay.

The letter that you receive will advise you to contact your GP to obtain your treatment and further advice. This is so that you can start your treatment 5 days before you are due to come into hospital for your operation.

A letter explaining this will also be sent to your GP to inform them that you have had a positive MRSA swab and that you need to start the treatment programme.

If I am positive what will I need to do?

The treatment involves washing your skin including your hair with a special antiseptic soap and applying a cream to both of your nostrils. You do not need to stay in hospital during this period and you should not need to be tested again before your operation or procedure.

Will there be any side effects?

The treatment has few side effects, however if you develop a rash or sore skin please stop the treatment and contact the Leeds Teaching Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Team for further advice. You may need to be given a more suitable product to use instead.

The antiseptic solution is unlikely to cause any problems to patients with eczema but should your skin become sore or your eczema worsens please contact the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Infection Prevention and Control Team. Again you may need to be given a more suitable product to use instead.

If I am positive are there any risks to my family

While MRSA can be passed from person to person, MRSA is not a risk to healthy people and is unlikely to be a problem in the home or at work. You can still continue with your normal daily and social activities. You should also use your own towel and not share it with others.  Remember to encourage your family and friends to wash their hands frequently.

How can I help prevent the spread of MRSA?

MRSA can be passed on by human contact so we need the help of patients and visitors as well as our staff to help combat it. Washing hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of all infections and we encourage our patients and visitors to do this as well as our staff.

• If you are a patient please wash your hands before meals and after using the toilet and ensure your hands are clean before and after handling catheters, drips, dressings etc. Please do not sit on another patient's bed.
• If you are a visitor, the hospitals also encourage you to wash your hands before and after visiting your friend or relative. You can use traditional soap and water or the hand rubs provided. These are alcohol based and kill germs very effectively. Again, please use the chairs provided rather than sit on your relative or friend's bed.
• You should also report any unclean areas within the hospital wards to a member of staff so we can take action.

Whether you are a patient or a visitor please don't be afraid to ask the doctor or nurse if they have washed their hands before they treat you or your relative or friend.

Need further information?

If you, your family or friends have any problems or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Infection Prevention and Control Team on 0113 3922691.