What isolation precaution is required for a patient with MRSA in urine without an indwelling catheter?

• A. Standard precautions
• B. Droplet precautions
• C. Airborne precautions
• D. Contact precautions

Answer: (D)

MRSA is mainly spread by contact with contaminated hands, skin, or surfaces, including fluids like urine. Even without a catheter, MRSA in urine can contaminate the environment or caregiver hands, so preventing transmission relies on preventing contact transmission. Implementing contact precautions—gloves and gown for care, dedicated equipment when possible, diligent hand hygiene, and careful environmental cleaning—addresses this route most effectively. Standard precautions are the baseline, but the known MRSA significantly benefits from adding contact precautions. Droplet and airborne precautions are not needed here because MRSA is not primarily spread via respiratory droplets or airborne particles.