Q Last summer my sweetheart got MRSA (a drug-resistant infection) after our annual trip to the North Shore. It started out as what appeared to be a bug bite and became a very painful abscess that had to be surgically drained. Antibiotics were also prescribed. After another abscess and another course of antibiotics, the MRSA was gone. About a month after his first diagnosis, I also had a very painful bump that tested positive for MRSA. Luckily mine was treated fairly early and resolved quickly.
How do we keep from getting MRSA when traveling? Many toilet facilities have no facilities for washing hands. Some have cold running water only -- no soap and no way to dry your hands. How should we be cleaning our hands after using these facilities? Will hand sanitizer work? And should we be cleaning off toilet seats before using them?
A An increasing number of people are getting skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus ("staph") bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics (drugs that kill bacteria). These resistant strains of staph bacteria are known as "MRSA" (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
Staph bacteria are commonly found in the nose or on the skin, and most of the time they do not cause infection. However, if staph bacteria enter your body -- such as through a cut, sore, bug bite, by touching another person's infection, or by sharing personal items such as towels or razors that have touched infected skin -- they can cause an infection.
To prevent staph infections:
• Clean your hands and skin often. Use soap and rub for 15 to 20 seconds; rinse. Regular soap is best -- antimicrobial soap is really for health-care settings. Water temperature doesn't matter; it will still rinse away germs. Dry hands with disposable towels or your own towel (don't share), or let your hands air dry. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available, but they are not effective if your hands are visibly soiled with dirt, food or any other material. Apply hand sanitizer, rub hands and let air dry. Shower or bathe regularly with soap; antibacterial soap is not necessary.
• Cover sores, cuts and bug bites with a clean, dry bandage to prevent bacteria from entering your body. While there is no evidence linking MRSA to toilet seats, cover sores/cuts/bug bites to prevent contact with toilet seats or any other surface.
• Avoid prolonged skin-to-skin contact with anyone you suspect could have a staph skin infection. Do not touch another person's wounds or bandages and do not share personal items (e.g. razors, towels, etc.) with other people. Clean items that you share with others (e.g. towels, razors, athletic equipment) before you use them, or use a barrier (e.g. clothing, towel) between your skin and shared equipment.
