The nursing management of MRSA on a spinal injuries unit

The aim of this article is to encourage nurses to question their actions when caring for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Some of the main effects of isolation are discussed with reference to specific problems encountered by spinal cord-injured patients in isolation. The advantages and potential problems of a policy for the management of MRSA in a spinal injuries unit are outlined. It concludes that it is not always necessary to isolate all patients who are colonized/infected with MRSA; provided that basic infection control measures are followed carefully, and staff, patients, and visitors are educated on the risks of MRSA, it is safe to nurse some of these patients on an open ward.