Public Employee Press

Safety Spotlight
MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

Most of us have had a staphyylococcus infection at one time or another, and many of us would test positive for staph germs today. Our immune system fights it off with no treatment or with simple antibiotic treatment.

However, MRSA, a staph germ that is resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics, has recently begun to spread. Most MRSA infections are successfully treated with different antibiotics, and most healthy people recover completely with the proper treatment.

Most cases of MRSA occur within hospitals where patients tend to have weaker immune systems and have a more difficult time fighting off the infection.

What does an MRSA infection look like?
Most are skin infections that look like pimples or boils — usually red, swollen and painful, sometimes with pus and often where there is a skin cut or abrasion.

How is MRSA spread?
MRSA is spread through skin-to-skin contact or by sharing items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection. Sharing towels, clothing or razors can spread the infection, as can surfaces that come into direct contact with people’s skin, such as tabletops, toys and exercise mats.

How can spread of the infection be controlled?
Skin cuts, abrasions and infections should be kept covered with clean, dry bandages. In addition, the NYC Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene recommends the following steps to minimize the spread of infections such as MRSA:

• Wash hands regularly with soap and water.
• Ensure that sufficient soap and paper towels are available in all bathrooms.
• Disinfect shared surfaces such as tabletops, door knobs, toilet seats, drinking fountains and exercise mats every day.
• Do not share towels or other similar personal items.

Should an office be closed after a documented MRSA infection?
In most cases it is not necessary to close an office because an employee has been diagnosed with an MRSA infection. In fact, it is not even necessary for someone with an MRSA infection to stay out of work as long as the infection is properly treated and covered by a bandage.

If you have any questions or concerns about MRSA, please contact your union rep or call the District Council 37 Safety and Health Dept. at 212-815-1685.