Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-020-0313-6 · Published: July 1, 2020
This study explores how isolating patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI) due to MRSA affects their mental health during rehabilitation. MRSA is a drug-resistant infection that requires isolation to prevent its spread. Researchers compared SCI patients isolated for MRSA with similar patients who weren't isolated, looking at factors like anxiety, depression, and how well they felt they could manage their disability. The study found that MRSA isolation didn't significantly worsen psychological outcomes. Engaging in rehabilitation improved patients' ability to manage their condition and reduced pain, regardless of isolation status.
Current infection-control protocols for MRSA in SCI rehabilitation, such as those used within NHS England, appear valid and do not necessarily impede rehabilitation outcomes from a psychological perspective.
Rehabilitation programs should focus on providing a multidisciplinary approach to care, ensuring both physical and psychological support to improve patients' perceptions of manageability and reduce pain.
Healthcare staff should prioritize maintaining social connectedness and providing emotional support to isolated patients to minimize any potential negative psychological impact of isolation.