Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or staph infection is a common condition found in nursing homes. This condition is serious enough in healthy adults, but the risks rise significantly in elderly patients with compromised immune systems.
MRSA Due to Nursing Home Neglect
Nursing home staff members are prone to not recognizing the symptoms of MRSA or take adequate precautions to prevent it for a number of reasons. Understaffing is the most common reason of neglect that doesn’t just result in MRSA but a host of other nursing home injuries.
The cost of staff is usually the biggest line item in a nursing home’s budget. To save money and improve their bottom-line, nursing home owners often run their facilities with fewer staff members than necessary to meet the care needs of the residents. Without adequate resources, nursing home employees are forced to pull double shifts. Lack of decent pay, demanding work, and long hours doesn’t make working in a nursing home very attractive to potential caregivers. Tasks and care get spread thin when a long-term care facility is short-staffed. This can easily lead to injury and infection outbreaks among the residents.