Treatment of MRSA

As part of your routine care swabs have shown us that you have MRSA bacteria.

Do not worry. This can be treated and in most cases removed.

A five-day course of treatment has been prescribed to try to clear the MRSA bacteria that has been detected on your skin. This information describes how and when each treatment should be used.

Treatment	When to use	How to use
Corsodyl throat spray and toothpast	Twice daily, for five days. Once each morning and once each night.	1. Brush your teeth with the toothpast provided twice a day. 2. Each time, rinse your mouth with water and then spray 12 times into the back of the throat.
Mupirocin nasal ointment	Three times daily for five days, once each morning and once each night.	1. Place a small (pea size) amount of the ointment onto your little finger. 2. Put it just inside each nostril. 3. Gently pinch the sides of the nose together to spread the ointment around the nostril.
Hibiscrub Body and Hair wash	Follow this routine: Day 1 - Bath/shower and wash hair Day 2 - Bath/shower only Day 3 - Bath/shower and wash hair Day 4 - Bath/shower only Day 5 - Bath/shower and wash hair	1. In the bath or shower wet your skin 2. Apply the body wash all over instead of your scalp 3. After about one minute, rinse thoroughly. 4. Use in place of your usual shampoo to wash your hair at least three times during the five day course.

Tips for effective use:

• Wash your hands frequently and always after using the toilet.
• If a carer or member of your family helps with your care they should wash their hands before and after caring for you.
• When washing, pay particular attention to the area between the buttocks, legs, groin and underarms. 
• Use a clean flannel (if you use one) and towel each time you apply the treatment.
• Ideally, change your clothes and bed linen daily during the course of treatment.

Finishing treatment:

• Two or three days after completing the five-day course, the areas will be retested (swabbed) at your GP surgery or at the pre-admission clinic.
• If no MRSA is found, a further two full sets of swabs will be taken one week apart. These swabs can be taken at your GP surgery – please make your own appointment.

If you have any skin reactions or further questions/ concerns about the treatment of your MRSA, please discuss/contact the Infection Control Nurse via switchboard on (0191) 233 6161.