Hazard

ED staff can be exposed to MRSA through contact with infected individuals (e.g., patients, visitors or staff members) or individuals who may be colonized. Colonization means that the organism is present in or on the body but is not causing illness. Most MRSA infections occur in people who have been in hospitals or other healthcare settings, such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. Staff can become infected and then become carriers who can infect other staff members or patients. As MRSA becomes more resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin and potentially vancomycin, it will become more difficult to treat.

Recognized Controls and Work Practices

• Hospitals in different geographical locations will need to establish their own local MRSA data and provide treatment information to clinicians.
• The CDC's recommendations for preventing transmission of MRSA in hospitals include Standard Precautions.
• The CDC also recommends Contact Precautions, in addition to standard precautions, when additional precautions are needed. For more information about the CDC's recommendations for standard and contact precautions, see:
  • Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings. Siegel JD, Rhinehart E, Jackson M, Chiarello L, and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), (2007).
• Infection control is the key to preventing the spread of MRSA. Ensure the availability of adequate facilities and supplies that promote good hand hygiene.
• Perform routine housekeeping in the ED, including decontaminating equipment and surfaces with detergent-based cleaners. Use EPA-registered disinfectants and sterilants when appropriate.

For more information, see Hospital-wide Hazards - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Provides links with general information, answers specific questions for employers and employees, and offers resources for a variety of workplace settings and activities, including healthcare, schools, athletics, and childcare.

Additional Information

• MRSA. OSHA Fact Sheet.
• Healthcare: Infectious Disease. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC): MDRO Prevention and Control. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• See Hospital-wide Hazards - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Provides links with general information, answers specific questions for employers and employees, and offers resources for a variety of workplace settings, including healthcare, school, athletic, and childcare.
• Also see Hospital-wide Hazards - MDRO - Multidrug-Resistant Organisms and Infection.