The findings of a new study published by the American Journal of Infection Control revealed that wheelchair wheels and employees’ shoes are spreading MRSA through nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The study was conducted at a nursing home facility in Cleveland, Ohio where researchers traced the track of “methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus” from twelve different residents’ rooms. Employees had their shoes disinfected and then were instructed by researchers to walk into the rooms of the twelve residents. After this, the employees had to proceed into rooms that were previously disinfected. Once this was completed, researchers examined the pathways traveled by the employees where they detected the presence of MRSA.

McKnight’s Long-Term Care News author, Alicia Lasek, writes the study indicated that MRSA levels were most strongly detected from the pathways of the residents’ rooms with the highest MRSA contamination levels. Furthermore, Lasek mentions that there was a 50% MRSA contamination rate in rooms located by the twelve residents’ rooms as well as the nursing station. The authors of the study have therefore concluded that shoes and wheelchair wheels can serve as potential spreading mechanisms to transmit MRSA.

Contact an Experienced Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney

       MRSA infections can lead to serious life-altering consequences and can oftentimes be deadly. It is important that employees and visitors at nursing homes take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of MRSA in these types of facilities. As always please check in with your loved ones to make sure they are receiving proper care. If you or a loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse and/or neglect, please reach out to our experienced team of attorneys at Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, L.L.P. Our team will fight for you! Remember: Injury? Call DLP! (570) C-A-L-L-D-L-P.