Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium found on and in the human body. While it is generally non-pathogenic, under certain circumstances, it can cause diseases. It successfully adapts to various environmental changes. It colonizes the skin, skin glands, and mucous membranes, potentially causing infections in humans and animals, such as rashes, bone inflammations, meningitis, and, in the progression of infection, septicemia. Managing MRSA in nursing homes poses a significant challenge, despite advancements in hygiene, rules for the prevention and control of MRSA, and possible treatments. The purpose: of this diploma work is to analyze MRSA control practices in various nursing homes in Slovenia, to determine the level of awareness among healthcare workers, and to examine different approaches to preventing and managing MRSA infections. Methods: In our study, we employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches, surveying 106 healthcare workers from six different nursing homes. The survey consists of 24 questions that assess awareness, knowledge, practices, and challenges in MRSA control. Results: The results showed that the awareness of healthcare staff regarding MRSA is average (65 %), with registered nurses being the most informed. The majority of healthcare workers believe that more training on MRSA is needed. Nursing homes typically isolate infected residents in single rooms and place a strong emphasis on hand hygiene as a key preventive measure. The main challenges include isolating infected residents, consistently adhering to hygiene standards, and collaborating with family members. Discussion and Conclusion: The results did not show a clear link between higher awareness and a lower number of infections, indicating the need for a multi-layered approach. The surveys provided several interesting insights, including that healthcare workers often still fear MRSA. The study gave us an understanding of the challenges faced by individual nursing homes. It is encouraging that employees expressed a desire for more frequent and targeted training on MRSA. Recommendations for nursing homes include increasing the number of educational programs, improving hygiene protocols, and enhancing cooperation with family members. Nursing home 1 stood out as an example of good practice, as it achieves the best results in controlling MRSA, despite having a large number of residents, due to high awareness and an effective problem-solving approach.
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