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Orchard Veterinary Group Information on MRSA
What is MRSA?
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. It a bacteria that is common in the general population; 40% of people have it on their skin and have no problems. It is also found on some pets, again without ever causing problems.
What problems can it cause?
Complications from MRSA are extremely rare, particularly in healthy individuals (including pregnant women, babies and children). Some individuals for instance with poor immune systems or the very elderly or those undergoing surgery are at risk of infection if the bacteria gets into inappropriate sites. This is a particular problem because the bacteria is resistant to many (but not all) types of antibiotic so it is difficult (but not impossible) to treat.
What is Orchard Veterinary Group doing about it?
We have recently been inspected by the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and we are a BSAVA and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons tier 2 accredited practice. This means we have to comply with strict standards of hygiene and clinical practice.
Surgery:
We have 2 dedicated operating theatres which are used for sterile procedures only
and nothing else. The walls and floors are scrubbed down at least once daily with
a disinfectant which kills MRSA and the theatre tables are disinfected between operations.
No-one is allowed into an operating theatre during an operation unless they are
wearing a scrub suit, theatre clogs, mob-cap and mask. All surgical instruments
are sterilised at 135 degrees centigrade. As well as a scrub suit, hat, mask and
clogs all surgeons wear sterile gowns with full length sleeves and sterile gloves.
Surgeons scrub up prior to surgery with a preparation which kills MRSA and the animal’s
skin is prepared with the same thing, the rest of the animal outside the scrubbed
area is covered with sterile drapes.
General hygiene:
Our flooring is hospital grade and is cleaned at least once daily using a disinfectant that kills MRSA. All consultation tables are disinfected between every consultation and vets wash their hands with antibacterial soap between each consultation.
What can pet owners do about it?
Although any risk is extremely small, MRSA can pass from pet to human or human to pet. Normal hygiene dictates you should wash your hands after handling a pet and this will minimise the risk of spread of MRSA. When visiting (human) hospital there is a (very slight) risk of transporting MRSA to or from the hospital which could be a risk to you, or patients in hospital; again, routine hygiene, particularly using antibacterial soap or alcohol wipes supplied in many hospitals will minimise the risk.
Special risk groups:
If anyone in the household has a compromised immune system, is on corticosteroids, chemotherapy or radiotherapy or has AIDS they should seek advice on MRSA from their doctor.
Finally:
The advice from all medical and veterinary authorities is that in most cases the risk from MRSA is very small indeed, particularly in healthy pets and humans. Normal hygiene and choosing a veterinary practice that works to high standards of cleanliness & sterility in the operating theatre will greatly minimise the risk.
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