5. Preventing the Spread of MRSA

Cleaning and Disinfection

Frequent cleaning and disinfection of potentially contaminated surfaces and equipment is an important step to take to prevent the transmission of MRSA, especially if someone in your household, facility or institution has a MRSA infection. According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,16 it is important to select a disinfectant that has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kill S. aureus or MRSA (look for the list of microorganisms on the product label). Be sure to wear any protective equipment, such as gloves, that the label requires. If required by the directions for use, first clean off dirt and organic material; this will ensure that the disinfectant is effective. Also make sure the disinfectant stays wet on the surface for the contact time listed on the label. This is the time that the disinfectant must remain on a surface in order to be effective.16

Below are some Clorox Healthcare and CloroxPro disinfectant products that have EPA-approved claims to kill MRSA and S. aureus in the environment. Always follow the directions for use on the label when cleaning and disinfecting.

Product EPA reg. no. Active ingredient Contact/Wet Time
(S. aureus
and MRSA)
Clorox Healthcare® Bleach Germicidal Wipes 67619-12 Sodium hypochlorite 30 sec
Clorox Healthcare® Bleach Germicidal Cleaner 56392-7 Sodium hypochlorite 1 min
Clorox Healthcare® Fuzion™ Cleaner Disinfectant 67619-30 Sodium hypochlorite 1 min
Dispatch® Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach 56392-8 Sodium hypochlorite 1 min
Clorox® Germicidal Bleach 67619-32 Sodium hypochlorite 5 min
Tilex® Disinfects Instant Mold and Mildew Remover 5813-24-67619 Sodium hypochlorite 5 min
Clorox® Clean-Up® Disinfectant Cleaner with Bleach1 67619-17 Sodium hypochlorite 30 sec
Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes 67619-25 Hydrogen peroxide 1 min
Clorox Healthcare® Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant 67619-24 Hydrogen peroxide 1 min
Clorox Healthcare® Multi-Surface Quat Alcohol Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes 70144-2-67619 Quaternary ammonium chloride 2 min
Clorox® Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner 70144-2-67619 Quaternary ammonium chloride 30 sec
Clorox® Pro Quaternary All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner1 1839-166-67619 Quaternary ammonium chloride 10 min
Clorox® Total 360® Cleaner Disinfectant4 1839-220-67619 Quaternary ammonium chloride 2 min
Clorox Healthcare® Disinfecting Wipes 67619-9 Quaternary ammonium chloride 4 min
Clorox® Disinfecting Spray 67619-21 Quaternary ammonium chloride 3 min
Clorox Healthcare® EZ-Kill® Quat Alcohol Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes 59894-10-67454 Quaternary ammonium chloride, alcohol 2 min
Clorox Healthcare® Citrace Hospital Disinfectant & Deodorizer 67619-29 Alcohol, glycol ether 5 min
Clorox® 4-in-One Disinfectant & Sanitizer 67619-29 Alcohol, glycol ether 5 min

Hand Hygiene

Regular hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be practiced by anyone who has a MRSA infection, those in close contact with them, and healthcare workers who are caring for patients with MRSA.

If You Have a MRSA Infection

The CDC also recommends a number of steps you can take to prevent the spread of MRSA and S. aureus in the community:6

References

1. General information about MRSA in the community. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/index.html. Accessed December 27, 2017.
2. David MZ, Daum RS. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: epidemiology and clinical consequences of an emerging epidemic. Clin Micro Rev. 2010; 23(3):616–68.
3. Minnesota Department of Health. Causes and symptoms of HA-MRSA. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/mrsa/hamrsa/basics.html. Accessed January 8, 2018.
4. General information about MRSA in healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/healthcare/index.html. Accessed January 8, 2018.
5. The Mayo Clinic. MRSA Infection. Diagnosis and Treatment. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375340. Accessed December 27, 2017.
6. CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). MRSA in the workplace. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/mrsa/. Accessed December 28, 2017.
7. National Geographic. Phenomena: A Science Salon. MRSA In Sports: Long Standing, Simple to Prevent, Still Happening. Posted October 10, 2015. http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/15/mrsa-football/. Accessed December 28, 2017.
8. General information about MRSA in healthcare settings. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/healthcare/index.html. Accessed December 27, 2017.
9. Datta R, Huang S. Risk of infection and death due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in long-term carriers. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;47(2):176-181.
10. The Mayo Clinic. MRSA infection. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/symptoms-causes/syc-20375336. Accessed January 8, 2018.
11. Dantes R, Mu Y, Belflower R, et al. Emerging infections program–active bacterial core surveillance MRSA surveillance investigators. National burden of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, United States, 2011. JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(21):1970-8. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.10423.
12. Anderson DJ, Kaye KS, Chen LF, et al. Clinical and financial outcomes due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infection: a multi-center matched outcomes study. PLoS One. 2009;4(12):e8305.
13. Wisconsin Department of Health Services. MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – frequently asked questions. http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/faq-mrsa.htm. Accessed January 8, 2018.
14. Kramer A, Schwebke I, Kampf G. How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A systematic review. BMC Infect Dis. 2006;6:130.
15. Liu C, Bayer A, Cosgrove SE, et al. Clinical practice guidelines by the infectious diseases society of America for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in adults and children: executive summary. Clin Infect Dis. 2011;52(3):285-92.
16. Environmental cleaning and disinfection for MRSA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/environment/index.html. Accessed January 17, 2018.

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