Consultant. Vol. 49 No. 7

Practical Pointers
Discover Shortcuts Devised by Colleagues

Short Cut to Preventing Spread of MRSA

July 7, 2009

I advise my patients who are carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to keep their fingernails trimmed. Long nails make the subungual spaces good havens for bacteria. S aureus, including MRSA, has been isolated from the subungual spaces of the hands of many at-risk patients who are MRSA carriers.¹ In addition, long nails can break both the skin and the nasal mucosa, facilitating the transmission of MRSA between the nares and the skin; this can result in prolongation of the nasal carrier state and possibly in skin infections.

— Fadi Jabr, MD
Dickson, Tenn

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More Pointers . . .

Practical Pointers July 2009

Short Cut to Preventing Spread of MRSA

Get a Jump on Diagnosis of Acute Abdomen in Children

No Tongue Blade—No Gag Reflex!

Dangers of Dehydration: A Primer for Patients With Heart Failure

REFERENCE:

1. Rupp ME, Fitzgerald T, Puumala S, et al. Prospective, controlled cross-over trial of alcohol-based hand gel in critical care units. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2008;29:8-15.

TOPIC INDEX

Developmental/Genetic

Nutritional/Metabolic

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Short Cut to Preventing Spread of MRSA

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