Protect yourself and others by imploring good hygiene practices and respiratory etiquette to stop the spread of MRSA and other infections.

• The best practice is to wash hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating, after using bathroom, after changing a bandage or touching a wound.
• Practice respiratory etiquette by never sneeze or cough into your hands. Instead, cover your nose & mouth with a tissue, dispose the used tissue into a no-touch receptacle and then wash hands.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose & mouth.
• Clean work surfaces and equipment after use and when soiled. Use an EPA registered disinfectant that is tuberculocidal or effective against Staphylococcus aureus. List of EPA -registered products effective against MRSA is available at http://epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm
• Avoid sharing personal items with others. Avoid sharing uniforms, practice or workout clothing, personal protective equipment (PPE), towels, washcloths or razors.
• Wash clothing, bed linens, and towels that become soiled and regularly with water and laundry detergent. Drying items in a hot dryer, rather than air drying, will help kill bacteria in clothes, bed linens and towels.
• At the gym, if activities involve close skin contact with other, shower before & after activities. When using shared equipment, use a barrier (e.g., clothing or towel) between your skin and equipment. Make sure to clean shared equipment after use.
• Cover all small unhealed cuts or abrasions with waterproof bandages until healed.
• Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
• See your healthcare provider for large or serious wounds, or open weeping, pustular lesions of the skin.

Don’t come to work if you are sick:

• Promptly see your healthcare provider for evaluation if you exhibit these symptoms or other signs of illness.
• Rest until your symptoms have resolved. Do not return to work until you’ve been seen and cleared by your healthcare provider.

If you have questions talk to your healthcare provider or the Yale University Department of Employee Health 432-7978.

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