How to Prevent and Reduce the Spread of MRSA in Skilled Nursing Homes

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a potentially deadly infection that continues to be a

problem in hospitals, skilled nursing, and healthcare facilities throughout the world. While anyone at risk of

developing an infection during their hospital stay needs to be wary of MRSA, elderly patients are at heightened

risk. MRSA is resistant to many broad-spectrum and common antibiotics, including penicillin, amoxicillin and

methicillin, and since elderly people tend to have weaker immune systems, MRSA is particularly dangerous to

them.

How MRSA Spreads in Skilled Nursing Homes

In skilled nursing home settings, MRSA usually spreads from patient to patient; a facility can be 100

percent free of MRSA infections, but as soon as one case strikes, other cases soon follow. This bacteria is

highly transmissible, and its spread is often hastened by healthcare workers who fail to follow correct

procedures. The Centers for Disease Control have identified three main ways in which healthcare workers

contribute to the spread of MRSA:

Improper hand-washing

Failure to follow catheter maintenance protocols

Breach of indwelling device guidelines

However, this only tells part of the story. It is essential for skilled nursing homes and other healthcare facilities

to understand that a large reason why MRSA spreads so fast is because of improper airborne infection control

procedures. This requires additional measures beyond simple hand-washing and careful attention to medical

device maintenance but a holistic look at the infection control loop (handwashing, surface cleaning and air).

Containing and Preventing MRSA Outbreaks

If a patient displays symptoms of MRSA infection, it is standard protocol for the facility to perform a culture on

all residents who may have come in contact with the bacteria to determine if it has spread, and if it has, to what

extent. Patients with acute MRSA infections are typically sequestered to prevent the spread of the bacteria, and

treated with powerful antibiotics, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin.

Maintaining sterile facilities is essential to preventing MRSA outbreaks before they occur. Many skilled nursing

homes and healthcare facilities are using infection control technologies, which are more effective than

antimicrobial cleaning agents. However, even some advanced systems cannot completely eliminate the risks

associated with MRSA.

Novaerus has developed a revolutionary new plasma field technology system, which attacks a comprehensive

spectrum of microorganisms, including MRSA, in a variety of ways. In essence, when bacteria and viruses are

exposed to the plasma field, they are bombarded with ions, electrical impulses and UV rays which destabilize

their bodies. This results in a breakdown of the chemical bonds which hold their bodies together, which quickly

kills them. Clinical studies have shown that the Novaerus system destroys 99.9999999999 percent of the

microorganisms exposed to its plasma field.

I'm sure the health and safety of your patients is your number one priority. I would strongly recommend that you

learn more about the advantages of the Novaerus system, as it is one of the most effective germ elimination

technologies ever invented, and it holds the potential to completely change the way we in the healthcare

industry manage our environmental sterilization practices.

To learn more about how a plasma field system can benefit your facility, please contact Novaerus.