Page updated 30 April 2007
Staff found to have MRSA
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Each member of the Health Care Team is responsible for protecting patients from infection by:
- Health care staff with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or dermatitis should not look after these patients. They should discuss the risks of working in a clinical environment with Occupational Health (OH).
- Screening involves taking proper specimens from the nose and any wounds or skin lesions and should be done by a member of the Infection Control Team or in Occupational Health. Staff are advised not to screen themselves for MRSA without the knowledge of ICN or OH.
- Occupational Health Department and the member of staff will be notified by the Infection Control Team if a screen is positive.
- On any request form, please state the area in which the staff member is currently working. Results will be confidential and returned to the Occupational Health Department.
- Staff members will be given a prescription for the preparations listed below and follow the Staphylococcus Decontamination Protocol.
- Staff should not stay away from work during this time but nasal carriers with colds will be more likely to shed bacteria and should stay away from clinical areas until the cold is better.
- The decontamination protocol is to be followed for 5 days, then staff will be re-screened at least 2 days after stopping all treatment and then twice more at weekly intervals. If carriers remain positive after following the protocol, special advice will be given depending on sites of persistent carriage.
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