You Can Help US in the FIGHT against MRSA!

During your stay…

• Use the foam dispensers– they contain special hand cleanser.  They are located throughout the building and usually in your room.  Use them, they are there for you.  As you leave and enter your room, wash your hands for 15 seconds with warm water and soap.
   
• Wash your hands or use hand cleanser before and after participating in communal activities such as physical therapy, exercise, poker, and bingo.  Always wash and dry hands before eating and after using the toilet.
   
• Remind health care workers to wash their hands before attending to you.  They could use a friendly reminder just like the rest of us.
   
• Ask your family and friends to wash their hands whenever they visit the hospital.

Before undergoing any surgical procedure, if you are a carrier of MRSA, remind your doctor so precautions can be taken to prevent you from developing an MRSA infection.

When you go home…

Not all the precautions taken in hospital are necessary at home.  If someone in your home has MRSA or if you are a veteran discharged home with MRSA, please follow these basic hygiene measures:

• Continue to use good hand washing throughout the day.  Ask your visitors to do the same.  Wash with soap and water for at least 15 seconds each time.
   
• Let anyone caring for you know that you are a MRSA carrier.  This includes home health providers, nurses, therapists, and rescue squads.  Caregivers should be certain to wear gloves when attending to open wounds.
   
• Do not share towels, washcloths, razors, clothing or other personal items.



• No special cleaning is necessary. Laundry and dishes can be done as usual. Just be sure to use a cleaning agent or detergent with HOT water.

No special cleaning is necessary.  Laundry and dishes can be done as usual.  Just be sure to use a cleaning agent or detergent with HOT water.

*Remember that MRSA will not usually harm healthy people.  However, they can be carriers and help spread the bacteria to other people.

Any concerns or questions about MRSA should be discussed with your doctor or nurse, MRSA Program Coordinator, or the Infection Control Department.  You can also print the MRSA Patient Brochures for easy reference.

Click here to learn more about what the VA is doing to protect you.  Download and print the Testing for MRSA Brochure. (PDF File)

The above brochure requires Acrobat^® Reader^® to print.
Click here to download the appropriate reader for your operating system to access.

Disclaimer: The Acrobat^® Reader^®  download link is not located on the VA MRSA Prevention Initiative Website.  It is provided as a courtesy and does not represent an endorsement of this product or any commercial enterprise.  Adobe and Acrobat Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.