While COVID-19 has been front and center of every healthcare workers’ mind for the past 24 months, it seems a sneaky old villain has made a rise while we were focused elsewhere. As compared to the same quarter in 2020, there has been a 34% jump in MRSA cases with some states seeing as high as a 99% increase.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other HAIs have been on the decline since 2010 so what is causing this sudden spike?
Experts believe COVID-19 is to blame for MRSA Infection
Compared to 2019; 2020 saw large and significant increases in HAIs. With an increase in laboratory-events, investigators think this may be causing an increase. More people in and out of the lab and around MRSA infections, makes this hardy virus easier to spread.
Another assumption the investigators have is that an increase of inadequate central-line insertion and maintenance could have caused this jump. It’s no surprise that healthcare workers have been overworked and at capacity resulting in less time for maintenance.
With an increased focus on hand and environmental hygiene, this increase caused surprise amongst healthcare professionals. However, according to Curtis Donskey, MD, it’s not enough:
…these days, with patients, staff, and families still at risk for COVID-19 and its variants, there’s a need for more attention to the risk for transmission of all kinds of pathogens in outpatient and ancillary care settings.
How to Prevent the MRSA Infection
While hand and environmental hygiene are important, one piece that is often overlooked is our ‘third hand’ – cell phones and mobile devices. MRSA infections are hardy viruses and can live on these surfaces. It is important that hospital devices are sanitized between patient use to prevent the spread of these viruses. CleanSlate UV has proven 99.9998% on MRSA and will continue its mission to ensure no one gets sick from germs on mobile devices.