1. Living in a Community with MRSA Jackie Dawson, PhD Grant, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas and Okanogan Public Health Epidemiologist

2. How to Protect Yourself? Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available Take regular baths or showers Take regular baths or showers

3. How to Protect Yourself? Do not share personal hygiene items Do not share personal hygiene items

4. How to Protect Yourself? Clean off communal surfaces Clean off communal surfaces Shower after participating in close contact activities Shower after participating in close contact activities

5. How to Protect Yourself? Wash cuts, scrapes, lesions, insect bites, and sores with soap and water Wash cuts, scrapes, lesions, insect bites, and sores with soap and water Avoid contact with other people’s cuts and sores Avoid contact with other people’s cuts and sores Keep wounds clean and dry Keep wounds clean and dry Cover wounds with bandages til healed Cover wounds with bandages til healed

6. What if someone close to you gets MRSA? Do not touch another person’s wounds, infected skin, or soiled bandages with your bare hands Do not touch another person’s wounds, infected skin, or soiled bandages with your bare hands Wash your hands frequently Wash your hands frequently Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available

7. What if someone close to you gets MRSA? Seek healthcare advice for any boils or new sores that are red or inflamed Seek healthcare advice for any boils or new sores that are red or inflamed Be alert for any skin infections following hospital discharge Be alert for any skin infections following hospital discharge

8. What should I do if I have MRSA? Wash your hands with soap and water Wash your hands with soap and water Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available Use alcohol-based hand gel (>62%) if soap and water are not available

9. What should I do if I have MRSA? Tell your close contacts Tell your close contacts Wash your hands frequently Wash your hands frequently Follow doctor’s orders Follow doctor’s orders

10. What should I do if I have MRSA? Wash contaminated clothes separately Wash contaminated clothes separately Don’t allow dirty laundry touch your clothes Don’t allow dirty laundry touch your clothes Change sheets regularly Change sheets regularly Wash with hot water / detergent Wash with hot water / detergent Hot dryer Hot dryer

11. What should I do if I have MRSA? Cover all “weeping” sores with a bandage Cover all “weeping” sores with a bandage Change dressings when soiled or damp Change dressings when soiled or damp Place old dressings in paper bag Place old dressings in paper bag Place bag in garbage Place bag in garbage Wash your hands after every wound contact Wash your hands after every wound contact

12. What should I do if I have MRSA? Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces in the home Regularly clean commonly touched surfaces in the home Door knobs Door knobs Light switches Light switches Toilet handles Toilet handles

13. What should I do if I have MRSA? Avoid whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools, cold tubs, swimming pools if you have an open wound Avoid whirlpools, hydrotherapy pools, cold tubs, swimming pools if you have an open wound WASH YOUR HANDS! WASH YOUR HANDS!

14. Check your pet!

15. MRSA resources Living with MRSA www.tpchd.org Living with MRSA www.tpchd.orgwww.tpchd.org www.cdc.gov/ncidod MRSA fact sheet www.doh.wa.govwww.doh.wa.gov