Infection control nurses’ perceptions of managing MRSA in the community

Abstract

In the United Kingdom (UK), the majority of hospitalised patients colonised with meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prior to or on admission to hospital are prescribed decolonisation treatment and isolated with appropriate precautions to reduce the risk of cross-transmission. However, MRSA colonisation in patients who have not completed decolonisation therapy does not prevent discharge or transfer to community healthcare facilities and current guidelines do not recommend routine community treatment and follow-up of patients. This qualitative study examines the perceptions of six senior infection prevention and control nurses in relation to the management of MRSA colonisation in the community. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, and findings suggest that gaps exist in current service provision for patients colonised with MRSA who are discharged to community healthcare settings. Respondents perceived that this was due to a number of factors including: practice being shaped by targets, compliance with guidelines, and the split in hospital and community providers. We suggest that current guidelines should be modified to provide follow-up for patients colonised with MRSA who are discharged to community healthcare settings.