MRSA UPDATE 1/2012.

The epidemic continue to stongly rage throughout the country. There are some

encouraging signs of decreasing frequency of these infections within hospitals due

to enhanced infection control measures in hospitals.For 2012.

1.Pregnant women especially those who might have to have a C-Section or at

enhanced risk for serious invasive MRSA infections.These can be entirely prevented

by screening all pregnant women at 36 weeks–at the same time we screen for

Group B. Streptococccus.

2.All patients with any types of risk factors for MRSA who are planning to have

elective surgery shoudl be screened for MRSA.Increased risk factors would include-

Diabetes,Health Care Exposure,Day care exposure,Previous history of staph

disease or colonization in patient or family,extreme obesity- BMI of 40 or greater.

3.Individuals who develop MRSA in a community setting should be rapidly

referred to our clinic or to a clinic with comparable experience. This is especially

true if the indvidual has had more than 1 MRSA infection or there is a second

member of the family with an infection. These infections rapidly spread within

families and all family members need to be checked and decolonized if MRSA + to

STOP the micro-epidemic.The boils are a nuisance but in rare occasions the staph can spread

to bone, lung or blood.                            Dr. Smith