1. Wash hands frequently
MRSA is spread by skin to skin contact. So by washing your hands regularly with antibacterial soap, the spread of MRSA can be cut down. Scrub your hands carefully for at least 15 seconds and if there is no soap nearby, be prepared with antibacterial hand sanitizer. (5)
2. Don't share personal items
Items that should be personal such as towels, sheets, razors, and athletic equipment, should be kept personal and not shared with others. MRSA has been found to be easily spread in athletic team scenarios, so proper sanitation in the locker room is critical.
3. Proper use of antibiotics
Using antibiotics only for bacterial infections would cut down dramatically on the amount of antibiotics that MRSA is exposed to and prevent it from becoming resistant to other antibiotics. Sometimes doctors will prescribe antibiotics for sicknesses that are not caused by bacteria. This will not cure the sickness and will only expose MRSA to more antibiotics and give it more time to mutate. (3)
4. Common spread of MRSA
MRSA is commonly spread in close living quarters such as lower socioeconomic status areas where crowded living is forced or hospitals where infection is spread very easily to people with weak immune systems. Cases of MRSA that originate in a hospital environment are called HA-MRSA (for hospital aquired MRSA) and cases that originate in a non-hospital environment are called CA-MRSA (for community aquired MRSA). (4)
5. Talk to your doctor
The most important thing in the prevention of MRSA infections is to talk to your doctor. Notify any healthcare provider that you are seeing with your concerns about a wound you may have that looks to be infected. They can test you for MRSA and an early diagnosis can help with an easier treatment process before the bacteria infects deeper parts of the body.
