MRSA. Prevention

We here at EvoTat are always doing our best to prevent disease. Along with Hep C and HIV something that has been coming to attention in the tattoo world is MRSA, or Staphylococcus aureus. 


From Wikipidea:
S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses from minor skin infections, such as pimples, impetigo, boils (furuncles), cellulitis folliculitis, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome, and abscesses, to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), chest pain, bacteremia, and sepsis. Its incidence is from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. It is still one of the five most common causes of nosocomial infections, often causing postsurgical wound infections. Abbreviated to S. aureus or Staph aureus in medical literature, S. aureus should not be confused with the similarly named and similarly dangerous (and also medically relevant) species of the genus Streptococcus.

Infection control

Spread of S. aureus (including MRSA) is through human-to-human contact, although recently some veterinarians have discovered the infection can be spread through pets^{[citation needed]} , with environmental contamination thought to play a relatively unimportant part. Emphasis on basic hand washing techniques are, therefore, effective in preventing its transmission. The use of disposable aprons and gloves by staff reduces skin-to-skin contact and, therefore, further reduces the risk of transmission. Please refer to the article on infection control for further details. Recently, there have been myriad reported cases of S. aureus in hospitals across America. The pathogen has had facilitated transportation in medical facilities mainly because of insufficient healthcare worker hygiene. S. aureus is an incredibly hardy bacterium, as was shown in a study where it survived on polyester for just under three months,^[33] polyester being the main material used in hospital privacy curtains.

The bacterium is transported on the hands of healthcare workers who may pick up the bacteria from a seemingly healthy patient carrying a benign or commensal strain of S. aureus, and then pass it on to the next patient being cared for. Introduction of the bacterium into the bloodstream can lead to various complications, including, but not limited to, endocarditis, meningitis, and, if it is widespread, sepsis.
Ethanol has proven to be an effective topical sanitizer against MRSA. Quaternary ammonium can be used in conjunction with ethanol to increase the duration of the sanitizing action. The prevention of nosocomial infections involves routine and terminal cleaning. Nonflammable alcohol vapor in CO₂ NAV-CO2 systems have an advantage, as they do not attack metals or plastics used in medical environments, and do not contribute to antibacterial resistance.
An important and previously unrecognized means of community-associated MRSA colonization and transmission is during sexual contact. ^[34]
Staff or patients who are found to carry resistant strains of S. aureus may be required to undergo "eradication therapy", which may include antiseptic washes and shampoos (such as chlorhexidine) and application of topical antibiotic ointments (such as mupirocin or neomycin) to the anterior nares of the nose.
The nonprotein amino acid L-homoarginine is a growth inhibitor of S. aureus as well as Candida albicans. It is assumed to be an antimetabolite of arginine.



Staph, or MRSA is can be something brutal. This contamination is something that we as artists need to be aware of. There are preventative measures that can be taken to prevent this kind contamination spreading to you. Our clients, our friends, our EvoTat Family. Joel, Bee, and I are taking these measures to insure, not only your safety, but our own. That's one of many EvoTat Philosophies.

Thank you for reading this!
Adam