A survey of MRSA awareness and knowledge among the general public and patients' visitors

Abstract

Our aim was to assess, for the first time, the know-ledge and perception of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the general public and a group of hospital visitors. Five hundred and forty five participants completed the survey, 24 (4.4%) had not heard of MRSA and were excluded from further analysis; 345 members of the public and 176 hospital visitors remained. Twenty four (4.4%) of the public and two of the hospital visitors had a personal history of MRSA and thus formed a discrete group. The majority of participants thought that MRSA transmission could be reduced by hand washing. MRSA evoked a strong emotive response, 61% agreeing they would be angry and 80.9% agreeing that they would feel fearful if diagnosed with MRSA. The public are generally knowledgeable about MRSA but most agreed that they would feel angry and afraid by its diagnosis. Future public education campaigns on MRSA should be aware of this response.