The Fight Against MRSA: How To Stop It From Spreading

KYW's Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Methicillin resistant staph aureus or MRSA is not new. In fact it is now relatively commonplace. We have antibiotics to treat it but the treatment can take a prolonged amount of time and it spreads relatively easy.

There are a significant number of patients who come to the hospital and have MRSA—this is a problem because of the potential spread to other health care workers and patients. That is why most hospitals now screen patients for MRSA.

According to a new report, this can have a good impact. Screening incoming hospital patients to see whose carrying MRSA can sharply reduce disease caused by the organism.

Over a 10-year period, screening incoming patients resulted in a 70 percent drop in the MRSA disease, the research was done at North Shore Memorial Hospital in Chicago.