Proper handwashing more effective at preventing spread of MRSA
March 31st, 2009 joshua
Proper hand-washing and hygiene habits among hospital staff are more effective at preventing MRSA infections than isolating patients.
According to testimony at the Society for General Microbiology meeting this week, a London physician tracked two ICUs in the U.K. for one year. During one portion of the year, patients who contracted MRSA were not isolated and the rates of cross-infection were compared. This showed no increase of infections, according to the physician’s report.
In fact, he said, moving patients is often more dangerous because it requires more hospital staff to practice extra hygiene habits.
MRSA are an extremely resistant infection to most antibiotics and prevention is more important than treatment.
