Commonly asked questions about MSSA
What is MSSA?
Meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria (germ) which lives harmlessly on the skin and in the nose, in about one third of people. People who have MSSA on their bodies or in their noses are said to be colonised.
However MSSA colonisation usually causes them no problems, but can cause an infection when it gets the opportunity to enter the body. This is more likely to happen in people who are already unwell. MSSA can cause local infections such as abscesses or boils and it can infect any wound that has caused a break in the skin e.g. grazes, surgical wounds.
MSSA can cause serious infections called septicaemia (blood poisoning) where it gets into the bloodstream.
However unlike MRSA, MSSA is more sensitive to antibiotics and therefore easier to treat.
MSSA is found when swabs from skin, nose or wounds or other specimens such as urine or sputum. These are examined in the hospital laboratory. Your nurse will inform you if you have MSSA.
A third of the population carry Staphylococcus aureus on their skin. MSSA may have already been in your nose or on your skin before you came into hospital or you may have acquired it since your admission.
MSSA can be transferred from person to person via touch. This is the most common mode of spread. It can also be spread via some of the equipment used to care for you during your stay. In hospital there are many patients in close proximity to one another, therefore making the spread of MSSA easier.
Hospital staff and visitors must wash their hands thoroughly before and after attending to you, as hand hygiene is an important way of controlling the spread of MSSA.
If you are having surgery such as a hip replacement or cardiac surgery you will be offered decolonisation treatment that will significantly reduce the number of MSSA bacteria on your body.
The type of treatment given to you will depend on whether you are at home or already in hospital. Both are equally effective and you will be provided with clear instructions on how to apply the treatment. The doctors caring for you may also prescribe antibiotics.
Yes, it can come back, unfortunately it may not totally go away.
MSSA does no harm to healthy people, including pregnant women, children and babies.
It can affect people who have certain long term health conditions but if you have concerns please ask the nurse in charge. The most important thing for you and your visitors to do is to ensure they wash their hands after visiting you so that they do not spread MSSA whilst in the hospital.
There should be no problem with you being discharged from hospital unless you have a serious infection due to MSSA. If you are on treatment the district nurse may be contacted to ensure it is completed.
If you have any questions about the information you have just read then please do not hesitate to ask the nurse on your ward for further information, or ask your nurse to contact the Infection Prevention team, who will come along to speak to you and answer your questions.
Thank you for your cooperation.
