Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
MRSA precautions
- How long
- No fixed duration in CDC’s table — set by facility policy
- Room
- Single room preferred; cohort with patients who have the same MDRO
- PPE
- Gown and gloves on room entry
- Draining wounds
- Major skin, wound or burn infection: Contact Precautions until drainage stops or is contained
- Equipment
- Dedicated or disposable noncritical equipment
Good to know
- CDC leaves the choice of which MDROs need Contact Precautions to each facility’s infection prevention program, based on local, state, regional or national recommendations. CDC recommends them in settings with ongoing transmission, in acute care settings with an increased risk of transmission, and for wounds that cannot be contained by dressings.
- In nursing homes, CDC guidance allows Enhanced Barrier Precautions (gown and gloves during high-contact care activities) for many residents with MDROs instead of full Contact Precautions.
What CDC’s table says
Verbatim from CDC’s Appendix A, with bibliography numbers removed.
Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), infection or colonization (e.g., MRSA, VRE, VISA/VRSA, ESBLs, resistant S. pneumoniae)
ContactStandardDuration—
MDROs judged by the infection control program, based on local, state, regional, or national recommendations, to be of clinical and epidemiologic significance. Contact Precautions recommended in settings with evidence of ongoing transmission, acute care settings with increased risk for transmission or wounds that cannot be contained by dressings. See recommendations for management options in Management of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms In Healthcare Settings, 2006. Contact state health department for guidance regarding new or emerging MDRO.
Staphylococcal disease (S. aureus) — Skin, wound, or burn — Major
ContactStandardDurationDuration of illness
Until drainage stops or can be contained by dressing.
Staphylococcal disease (S. aureus) — Skin, wound, or burn — Minor or limited
StandardDuration—
If dressing covers and contains drainage adequately.
Test yourself: a CIC-style question
Contact Precautions, in addition to Standard Precautions, are indicated for a patient with which condition?
- Active pulmonary tuberculosis
- Infection or colonization with a multidrug-resistant organism such as MRSA or VRE
- Seasonal influenza
- Pertussis
Show answer
B. Infection or colonization with a multidrug-resistant organism such as MRSA or VRE
MDROs such as MRSA and VRE spread by direct and indirect contact, so Contact Precautions apply. Tuberculosis needs Airborne Precautions; influenza and pertussis need Droplet Precautions.
Questions like this come up in the Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents domain of the CIC® exam. The 654 questions in the app each come with a written explanation.
FAQ
- What precautions are needed for MRSA?
- Contact + Standard (when your infection prevention program applies them). Room: Single room preferred; cohort with patients who have the same MDRO. PPE: Gown and gloves on room entry. Draining wounds: Major skin, wound or burn infection: Contact Precautions until drainage stops or is contained. Equipment: Dedicated or disposable noncritical equipment.
- How long do MRSA precautions last?
- No fixed duration in CDC’s table — set by facility policy.
Sources
- CDC. Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions, updated September 2024)
- CDC. Infection Control Guidance: Candida auris
Checked against CDC on October 21, 2026. For education and CIC® exam preparation only — not a substitute for your facility’s infection prevention policies, your state or local health department, or clinical judgment. CBIC and CDC do not endorse this tool.