Infection Protection Pack
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The widely reported MRSA bacteraemia figures account for
1/3 - 1% of all hospital acquired infection.

MRSA Cycle

What is MRSA and how could I become infected?

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) which has become resistant to some antibiotics is a mutation of the more common Methicillin Susceptible Staph Aureus (MSSA) bacteria. When the bacteria are on the surface of the skin you are said to be “colonised”. Nearly 30 per cent of the population are colonised with Staph Aureus. A growing proportion of those colonised is carrying the MRSA strain.

Until MRSA, or MSSA, enters your system through an opening in the skin, the bacteria will not cause you harm.

Staph bacteria can survive anywhere on the body, most commonly the groin, anal and pubic area, the armpits, under the breasts and in the nose.

Any break in the skin – a rash, fungal infection (such as athlete’s foot), open spots, bed sores and certainly surgical wound sites, a cannula or catheter – is an access point for bacteria which can cause a soft tissue infection. If the infection passes into the bloodstream it will cause more serious illness (a bacteraemia). This is a common route of transmission for other infections.

Both MRSA and MSSA infections are not age related and can be passed easily from one person to another. They are passed on hand to hand, by skin to skin contact, by touching contaminated surfaces, from the nasal spray of a colonised person.

If you become colonised you can infect yourself.

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From - contaminated hands

From - contaminated surfaces, BP cuffs, stethoscopes

From - your own colonised skin

How? - though any break in your skin – rough patches, rashes, bedsores, a cannula, catheter and surgical wound sites

Routes of Infection

Infectious diseases can spread in a variety of ways: through the air, from direct or indirect contact with another person, soiled objects, skin or mucous membrane, saliva, urine, blood and body secretions, through sexual contact, and through contaminated food and water.

Skin or mucous membrane (lining of nose and mouth) contact

Some infections are spread directly when skin or mucous membrane comes into contact with other skin or mucous membrane. Infections are spread indirectly when skin or mucous membranes come in contact with contaminated objects or surfaces.

• Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA, MSSA	• Scabies
• Chicken pox	• Impetigo – CN Staph Aureus
• Cold sores (herpes simplex)	• Warts
• Conjunctivitis	• Hepatitis B & C
• Hand, foot and mouth disease	• HIV/AIDS
• Ringworm

Airborne droplets from the nose and throat

Some infections are spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs out tiny airborne droplets. The droplets in the air may be breathed in directly by another person or indirectly enter another person through contact with surfaces and hands with the droplets on them.


• Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA, MSSA	• Meningococcal disease
• Human, Avian and Swine Flu	• Mumps
• Chickenpox	• Pneumococcal pneumonia
• Common cold	• Rubella
• Diphtheria	• Streptococcal sore throat
• Measles	• Tuberculosis (TB)
• Meningitis (bacterial)	• Whooping cough (pertussis)

Saliva

Some infections are spread by direct contact with saliva (such as kissing) or indirect contact with contaminated objects (such as children sucking and sharing toys).