Final answer:
Health care personnel should wear gloves, protective gowns, and face protection when dealing with a patient with active MRSA. Hand hygiene is critical before and after patient contact to prevent transmission. Contaminated waste must be managed with stringent protocols to ensure safety in healthcare settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Proper PPE for Contact Precautions with MRSA
To ensure safety and minimize the risk of transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), health care personnel must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). This includes donning gloves, a protective gown, and face protection, such as a mask with a face shield, or goggles. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water before and after wearing gloves, and any exposed skin that comes into contact with the patient or their surrounding environment should be washed immediately.
Hospitals may implement various protocols such as screening patients for MRSA and initiating decolonization procedures with chlorhexidine washes or intranasal mupirocin for those who test positive. These measures, along with the vigilant use of PPE by medical staff, are critical in preventing the spread of MRSA in healthcare settings. All contaminated waste should be treated properly by incineration or autoclaving, and surfaces must be disinfected routinely.
Hand hygiene is paramount in the fight against MRSA, not only for those in direct contact with infected patients but also in routine patient care. Special emphasis should be placed on the careful washing of hands, as it remains a cornerstone of infection control in healthcare facilities.