title: Infection control for MRSA in a psychiatric hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examines the challenges in treating methicillin resistant Staphlococcus Aureus (MRSA) in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The article outlines a case study of one particularly difficult patient who presented to an acute psychiatric hospital with a large wound that was MRSA positive and reviews the dilemmas facing mental health providers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcome of the case presented suggests that hospital policies interfered with the psychiatric treatment and recovery of an acutely ill patient as well as create possibly unnecessary costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitals should review their infection control policies to curb the spread of infection among patients and staff in an acute psychiatric setting.
authors.affiliation: Maricopa Integrated Health Systems, Box 856 Phoenix, AZ 85016. Electronic address: glevitt@cox.net.
authors.forename: Gwen A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000188:drug therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Infection control; MRSA; Mentally ill; Psychiatric