How is the rest of the community dealing with MRSA? Are you seeing greater prevelance? Do you use cubicle isolation in a unit without isolation. Do you deny admission to a pt. with positive sputum culture? Do you bleach after a pt. who has a positive blood culture?
Thanks!

what is MRSA?

Our unit doesn't isolate MRSA patients, just bleaches the machines... but I am worried about this, after seeing that a MRSA patient sits in my chair on another shift. I recently had a skin infection on my ankle, and I'm concerned that I picked it up from my dialysis chair-- I've never had skin infections before. We've got an isolation room in our unit, but the administrator seems afraid to put anyone in it for fear that he'll be accused of violating someone's civil rights.

MRSA is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

I think treatment and isolation procedures are varying greatly from clinic to clinic.

The latest CDC recommendations on prevention of disease transmission of dialysis patients may be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5005a1.htm

Carol

[This message has been edited by Carol Isaac MacKusick (edited 10-15-2001).]