Fairmount Fire Protection District
• Methacillin Resistant Staph Aureus is a Staff
infection that is resistant to normal antibiotic
treatments.
• It exists on the skin and in nasal passages and is
“colonized” in 20 to 30% of all people with no
symptoms
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• The Centers for disease control estimates that by
2015, all of us will carry some form of MRSA.
• It used to be solely a hospital problem but is
now found in the community.
• MRSA can survive on some surfaces for up to 2
months.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM
FOR FIRE FIGHTERS
It is a problem in many fire stations, fire crews and
at least one case of MRSA has been found in
every state across the nation.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• Why Fire Fighters?
• FF’s move through the community, hospitals and patient environments more
that the general public.
• Combined living/working environment
• High potential for skin irritation/lacerations
• Do not regard small injuries as a threat.
• Why be concerned?
• If MRSA enters the bloodstream it can cause death or damage that makes you
disabled.
• Most MRSA treatments average cost to treat is between $15000.00 and
20000.00.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• What does it look like?
• It starts as a pimple with red tender edges.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• Progresses into an abscessed infection quickly.
• If it enters the bloodstream it is hard to treat. –
Only two antibiotics can cure it then.
• Can result in Fever, Malaise, Hospitalization and
lost work time.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• Almost all MRSA can be treated by drainage of pus with or
without antibiotics.
• If antibiotics are used, a sample must be analyzed first to
determine the strain and type of antibiotics to use.
• Open skin wounds must be covered and dry. Do not use
ointments for treatment of MRSA.
• Regard breaks in skin as potentially serious issues.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• Case study – Safety Alert , Potential MRSA
Exposure , September 11, 2009.
• Cause appears to be one crew member asking
another to put triple antibiotic cream on a lesion
on his elbow.
• The communal living contributed to the spread
MRSA and Fire Fighters
• What can we do?
• MRSA cannot live if there is not moisture. Dry PPE, shirts and
pants after use.
• Make new bleach solutions everyday… Needs a ten minute
contact time to be 100% effective.
• Use alcohol cleaners with at least 70% alcohol.
• Cover any skin irritations or lesions with a dry bandaid.
• Don’t wear the same clothes consecutive days when sweating a
lot.
MRSA and Fire Fighters
•What can we do cont.
WASH YOUR HANDS, FACE and ARMS
»
Wear Gloves and PPE
&
•CLEAN! CLEAN ! CLEAN!
MSRA and Fire Fighters
• Questions?
• Additional information web sites:
www.cdc.gov:
Web MD: MRSA/Staph/Infection