Sanitation of the MRSA germ
Due to the resistances a remediation is not always easy. A distinction must be made between treatment of a symptomatic infection with MRSA itself and colonization of the skin or mucous membranes. In the case of such colonization, the measures are mainly limited to external applications.
However, before treating MRSA, the ability to sanitize it should be checked. For example, catheters or feeding tubes should no longer be available prior to drug therapy. Open wounds or skin infections must also be treated in advance as far as possible in order to increase the chances of success of the treatment.
The rehabilitation itself then takes about 5 – 7 days. In this phase, antibiotic nasal ointment (e.g. Mupirocin ointment) is applied 3* daily. This is supplemented by oral and dental care with a disinfectant approved for mucous membranes, such as Octenidol.
In addition, the whole body as well as the hair must be washed every day with a disinfecting washing solution, such as Octenisan. In addition, all used objects and surfaces must also be disinfected, or use towels immediately after use. As a check for success, a swab is taken 48 hours after the end of the sanitation and then again after 6 and then after 12 months.
Only if all smears are negative, the MRSA sanitation has been successful. Another problem area is a symptomatic MRSA infection, which must be treated systemically with an antibiotic. Due to the resistance of MRSA to the otherwise very frequently used group of ß-lactam antibiotics, some antibiotics from the group of so-called reserve antibiotics must be used.
The exact antibiotic to be used is then determined by means of an antibiogram and based on clinical experience. The Antibiogram determines in advance to which agent the respective MRSA strain is most sensitive. Frequently, antibiotics from the group of glycopeptides (e.g. vancomycin) or newer preparations such as linezolid or daptomycin are used.
Often also in combination with e.g. rifampicin, clindamycin or gentamicin. Before the actual treatment, removable sources of infection, such as catheters, must be removed if possible. The additional sanitation of the body surface and the mucous membranes is also important. Patients with an MRSA infection are given an isolation room and special attention must be paid to hygiene measures.
