MRSA pre-admission screening

MRSA pre-admission screening

About this leaflet
You will have been given this leaflet because you are due to come into
hospital to have a surgical procedure/operation

When you attend for your pre-operative assessment appointment it will be
necessary for the nurse to take some swabs to check for Meticillin Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus “MRSA” from several areas of the body. This will not
hurt you and only takes a few minutes. These notes may help you to
understand why we do this and what it entails.

MRSA – What is it?
‘MRSA’ Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium which is
carried harmlessly by many people on their skin and in their nose without
causing an infection.

It can, however, cause abscesses, boils and wound infections, particularly in
people who are already unwell.

MRSA is resistant to certain commonly used antibiotics which means it may
then be more difficult to treat if it does cause an infection.

Why is it important?
Special care is taken with MRSA when it is found on patients coming into
hospital for operations such as joint implants or procedures involving grafts
because it can cause hard to treat infections in those particular group of
patients.

For the majority of patients and hospital staff it poses NO threat to health.

How does MRSA spread?
MRSA can spread easily from one patient to another by the hands or clothes
of staff or patients and then passing to the next person they touch; it can also
be found in dust.

Careful handwashing by staff and patients and good housekeeping to control
dust is important and helps to prevent the bacteria spreading.

How can you tell who has MRSA?
Patients carrying MRSA do not look or feel different, therefore it can only be
found by growing the bacteria from swabs taken from skin and wounds.

Who is screened for MRSA?
Patients who are going to have certain types of procedures/operations and
certain groups of patients are screened for MRSA on admission.

What if I am carrying MRSA?
If you are found to be carrying MRSA, then you may be given treatment which
is harmless to you. This could mean delaying your operation for a few days
this will be decided by your doctor.

Further swabs will be taken after you have completed the treatment to confirm
that the MRSA has been cleared by the treatment.

As an extra precaution, especially on surgical wards, you may be given a
single room, this is to help prevent the spread of MRSA.

What does the treatment involve?
The treatment consists of the use of a nose ointment and a special skin
wash/shampoo.

This will probably be used before you are admitted for your operation.

If you require any further information, please seek advice from the Pre-Admission Clinic

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything,
please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you
and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a
member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to
answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well
and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your
experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are
available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We
value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with
us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the
nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best
placed to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of
staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer
informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf,
if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to
outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can
investigate your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing
and we can advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please
be aware that you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your
call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of
staff.

Version 6