Assessing Awareness of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Among Nursing Students: A Survey from 2018

This study aimed to assess knowledge and awareness of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among nursing undergraduates at the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to nursing students between 12^th to 24^th April 2018. The questionnaire focused on various aspects of MRSA, including its causative agent, transmission methods, clinical manifestations, infection control practices, and treatment options. The findings revealed a high awareness of MRSA, with 98.2% of participants recognizing the term. However, significant knowledge gaps were identified, particularly in areas related to MRSA resistance mechanisms, treatment options, and infection control practices. Notably, only 32.1% of participants acknowledged the importance of dressing MRSA-infected wounds before other patients' wounds, highlighting a critical area for improvement. In terms of infection control, most participants correctly identified the importance of using personal protective equipment (PPE), hand washing, and proper disposal of contaminated materials, but there was a lack of consensus regarding specific management protocols for MRSA patients. These findings suggest that while awareness is high, further education and targeted training are essential to address knowledge gaps and improve adherence to infection control measures for managing MRSA infections in clinical settings