Recall from the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology that MRSA causes about 10 percent of hospital infections in the United States and is associated with an increased risk of death.
The updated recommendations call for better use of antibiotics because if a person is being treated with antibiotics for another disease, they may be at higher risk of developing another MRSA and more likely to spread it to other people.
The scientists insisted on avoiding the unnecessary use of antibiotics as it can reduce the risks associated with the use of this type of drug.
Recommendations include surveillance to identify asymptomatic carriers to eradicate or reduce MRSA burden in specific patient populations.
The handbook covers basic infection prevention practices such as hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting the environment and healthcare equipment.
These not only prevent MRSA, but also help prevent the spread of other pathogens, say the authors of the document.
The experts explained that MRSA infection is caused by a species of staph that is resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat common staph infections.
These typically occur after invasive procedures such as surgery or the use of central venous catheters and can spread in hospitals through the hands of healthcare workers and through contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment.
mem/joe