Yes. If you’re in hospital with an MRSA infection, you can still have visitors.
Advice for hospital visitors
Visitors can reduce the risk of spreading MRSA to other people by:
- not sitting on the patient’s bed
- cleaning their hands just before and just after touching the patient
- cleaning their hands before entering and after leaving the ward
Visitors should clean their hands with soap and water or alcohol gel. Alcohol gel or hand rub dispensers are often placed near patients' beds and at the entrances to wards and bays or near elevators.
Visitors should also follow the hospital’s local policy on preventing the spread of infections. Ask the hospital staff for advice.
When to get advice before someone visits you
MRSA does not usually affect healthy people, including pregnant women, children and babies.
However, some people are more at risk of MRSA. This includes people with serious health problems, chronic (long-term) skin conditions or open wounds. You can find information in the Health A-Z about groups of people most at risk from MRSA infection.
If you have an MRSA infection and someone at increased risk wants to visit you, get advice from the hospital staff first.
Get advice about visiting other patients
If you have an MRSA infection, you should also get advice from hospital staff before visiting any other patients in the hospital.
Read the answers to more questions about infections.
Further information:
