Biological Hazards:Biological Hazards:Staph and MRSA InfectionsStaph and MRSA Infections

UCOP October 2008 Safety MeetingUCOP October 2008 Safety Meeting

Biological HazardsBiological Hazards

Periodically Discuss Various Biological Periodically Discuss Various Biological HazardsHazards HazardsHazards Routes of ExposureRoutes of Exposure Preventive MeasuresPreventive Measures

Selected Biological HazardsSelected Biological Hazards Staph and Methicillin-Resistant Staph and Methicillin-Resistant

Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Staph and MRSAStaph and MRSA

Staph – BacteriaStaph – Bacteria Infections Ranging from Skin boils to Severe Infections Ranging from Skin boils to Severe

Blood InfectionsBlood Infections MRSAMRSA

Type of Staph Resistant to Certain Type of Staph Resistant to Certain AntibioticsAntibiotics

Two Major Types Two Major Types Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA)Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA) Community Associated (CA-MRSA)Community Associated (CA-MRSA)

MRSAMRSA

Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA)Health Care Associated (HA-MRSA) Persons in Hospitals & Health Care FacilitiesPersons in Hospitals & Health Care Facilities

Recent Medical Procedures – Dialysis, Surgery, Recent Medical Procedures – Dialysis, Surgery, CathetersCatheters

Nursing Homes - Persons with Weaken Immune Nursing Homes - Persons with Weaken Immune SystemsSystems

Community-Associated (CA-MRSA)Community-Associated (CA-MRSA) Most Common Type of Soft Tissue Infection Most Common Type of Soft Tissue Infection

Seen in Outpatient SettingSeen in Outpatient Setting Focus on CA-MRSA in This PresentationFocus on CA-MRSA in This Presentation

Staph and MRSA BacteriaStaph and MRSA Bacteria

Can Live on the Skin and/or Nose Can Live on the Skin and/or Nose of Healthy Individuals without of Healthy Individuals without Causing Any Symptoms of DiseaseCausing Any Symptoms of Disease

Injury to Skin (Scrape or Cut)Injury to Skin (Scrape or Cut) Allow Staph or MRSA Bacteria to Allow Staph or MRSA Bacteria to

Enter Skin and Cause an InfectionEnter Skin and Cause an Infection

Who Gets CA-MRSAWho Gets CA-MRSA

Close Contact with an Infected PersonClose Contact with an Infected Person Direct Physical Contact (Not Through the Air) Direct Physical Contact (Not Through the Air)

with an Infected Personwith an Infected Person Indirect Contact – Touching Objects Indirect Contact – Touching Objects

Contaminated with the MRSA Bacteria Contaminated with the MRSA Bacteria Towels, Sheets, Wound Dressings, Clothes, Towels, Sheets, Wound Dressings, Clothes,

RazorsRazors Workout Areas or Sports EquipmentWorkout Areas or Sports Equipment

MRSA InfectionsMRSA Infections

Usually Mild, Limited to the Usually Mild, Limited to the Surface of the SkinSurface of the Skin Treated with Proper Hygiene and Treated with Proper Hygiene and

AntibioticsAntibiotics If Left Untreated or Not If Left Untreated or Not

Recognized EarlyRecognized Early Can Be Difficult to Treat Can Be Difficult to Treat Can Progress to Life-Threatening Can Progress to Life-Threatening

Blood or Bone InfectionsBlood or Bone Infections

Staph and MRSAStaph and MRSA

Usually First Look Usually First Look Like Spider Bites or Like Spider Bites or Red Bumps Which Red Bumps Which Become Swollen & Become Swollen & PainfulPainful

May Fill with PusMay Fill with Pus

Incidents of CA-MRSAIncidents of CA-MRSA

Athletic SettingsAthletic Settings Close Personal Contact – Wrestling & Close Personal Contact – Wrestling &

FootballFootball Equipment – Workout Equipment, Equipment – Workout Equipment,

Gym Mats, UniformsGym Mats, Uniforms Personal Items –Towels, Razors, Personal Items –Towels, Razors,

ClothesClothes

Schools, Dormitories, Military Schools, Dormitories, Military Barracks, Correctional Facilities, Barracks, Correctional Facilities,

Five “C’s” – Make MRSA Five “C’s” – Make MRSA Easier to SpreadEasier to Spread

CCrowdingrowding Frequent Skin-to-Skin Frequent Skin-to-Skin CContactontact CCompromised Skin (Cuts, ompromised Skin (Cuts,

Abrasions)Abrasions) CContaminated Items/Surfacesontaminated Items/Surfaces Lack of Lack of CCleanlinessleanliness

Prevent Spreading of Prevent Spreading of MRSAMRSA Wash Hands Often or Use Wash Hands Often or Use

Alcohol-Based Hand SanitizerAlcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Keep Cuts & Scrapes Clean and Keep Cuts & Scrapes Clean and

Covered with BandagesCovered with Bandages Do Not Touch Other People’s Do Not Touch Other People’s

Cuts or BandagesCuts or Bandages Do Not Share Personal Items Do Not Share Personal Items

(Towels or Razors)(Towels or Razors) Wipe Down Gym Equipment Wipe Down Gym Equipment

Before and After UseBefore and After Use