How do I remove a patient with MRSA from Contact Precautions?
Patients must be off MRSA-specific antibiotics for 48 hours and have no evidence of continued colonization with MRSA, as evidenced by negative nasal (anterior nares) cultures at day 0 and day 7. In addition, a culture from all draining wounds must be negative for MRSA x 1. Finally, cultures from the original site of isolation of MRSA, if obtainable without increased risk for substantial patient morbidity (e.g., tracheal aspirate culture in patient with tracheostomy is easily obtained; however, collection of pleural fluid for sole intent of removal off isolation precautions would not be required), should be negative x 1.
