NCJ Number
228775
Journal
Journal of Correctional Health Care Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2009 Pages: 268-279
Date Published
October 2009
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study explored the preparedness of county-level correctional facilities in the prevention and control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Abstract
Findings show that prevention and control preparedness activities of county jails in the Greater Dayton area of Ohio are in place: environmental control (95.4 percent), MRSA screening (88.4 percent), standard precautions (84.3 percent), treatment (83.6 percent), personal hygiene (80.6 percent), and education (80.4 percent). However, the results indicate that MRSA prevention and control preparedness in county correctional facilities in the Greater Dayton area demonstrate potential areas for improvement in both rural and urban county jail systems. Emphasis should be on MRSA awareness education for both inmates and staff, including increased work-specific training for laundry, housekeeping, and kitchen workers. As noted previously, education should include transmission, prevention, treatment, and containment. Although the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is problematic for inmates, easy access to these topical waterless cleansers for enforcement personnel and support staff may be beneficial when hand-washing facilities are not easily or routinely available. Administrators of county correctional facilities may want to consider isolation or cohorting of MRSA-infected individuals when close personal contact is unavoidable, particularly among inmates with behavioral issues. Data were conducted to examine MRSA prevention and control activities of nine participating county-level correctional facilities in the Greater Dayton area. Figures, appendix, and references