MRSA and homeless people
I recently found out that two of my homeless friends have MRSA. Locally, the news media reports on high schools with reported cases of MRSA, but so far, I don’t think I’ve seen a story about MRSA and homeless people — not in Greensboro, anyway. But the risk of MRSA among the homeless is well-documented.
From a report by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, HCH Clinicians’ Network:
“…CA-MRSA [community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ] …prevalence is higher among individuals who are members of racial/ethnic minorities and those with low socioeconomic status …higher risk for individuals with histories of homelessness, incarceration, frequent emergency department visits, and injection drug use…
HCH providers confirm an apparent increase in MRSA over the past few years in homeless clinics and shelters. Higher rates of hospitalization, HIV infection, and injection drug use, as well as
crowded living conditions and/or poor hygiene place homeless people at higher risk for acquisition and transmission of CA-MRSA.”
Here’s what the CDC says about preventing staph infections:
- Keep your hands clean by washing well with soap and water or using an alcohol hand gel.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
Homeless people often lack access to facilities to wash their hands or take baths, and they may not have soap or sanitizing hand gel available. It can be difficult for a homeless person to keep cuts and scrapes clean, covered and bandaged — particularly if they live outside. And sometimes homeless people share personal items out of necessity.
The CDC recommends that a person infected with staph keep their wounds covered, wash their hands often, and wash and dry their soiled clothing and bedding. For homeless people living outside, without access to bathrooms or laundry facilities, these can be impossible instructions to follow.
If Greensboro had a day center, with bathrooms and laundry facilities, unsheltered homeless people could bathe regularly and wash their clothes. Perhaps that might lower the risk of CA-MRSA among our homeless friends. And help build a healthier community for all of us.