Gauteng Health denies nurse exposed to MRSA at Charlotte Maxeke MyZA

The Gauteng Department of Health says it is not aware of any nurse who contracted Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

According to media reports, a nurse is currently being treated for MRSA at a private hospital and she alleges that she contracted the bacterium while working at the hospital’s neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Department spokesperson, Simon Zwane, said the only nurse who is away at the neurosurgery ICU is on sick leave after she underwent a surgical operation at a private hospital.

“These allegations are untrue as no junior nurse dispenses medicine in this ward. Neurosurgery ICU is a highly specialised unit and it has a resident doctor on site at all times therefore no patient stays without being assessed for 10 days or more,” said Zwane.

The anonymous nurse alleges that what puts them at risk is unfair delegation of duties as well as the fact that they are not given antibiotics to prevent them from being infected.

Cleanliness at the ward

However, Zwane explained that the ward in question is cleaned three times in a day with a mop and disinfectant solution. Two cleaners, who are currently allocated in the ward, are implementing the cleaning programme, according to the standard. They do this under the supervision of the infection control unit.

“On discharge or death of a patient, curtains and all other items in the room are removed for washing and walls and floors are scrubbed. The hospital strives on keeping patients and staff free from contacting infections in hospital premises and will continue to do so,” Zwane explained.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics. In the community, most MRSA infections are skin infections. In medical facilities, MRSA causes life-threatening bloodstream infections, pneumonia and surgical site infections.

MRSA can either be contracted through physical contact with an infected person or physical contact with objects touched by an infected person.

MRSA is especially troublesome in hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, where patients with open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk of infection than the general public. – SAnews.gov.za