Where should contaminated dressings from a patient with MRSA be disposed of?

• A. Biohazard bag located in the designated receptacle inside the client's room
• B. Regular trash outside the room
• C. Personal bag of the patient
• D. Recycling bin

Answer: (A)

Contaminated dressings from someone with MRSA must be disposed of in a biohazard waste container, placed inside the patient’s room. This protects others and the environment by keeping infectious material contained until it’s properly processed. MRSA spreads by contact with contaminated materials, so placing the dressings in a designated biohazard bag ensures specialized handling and minimizes the risk of environmental contamination. Regular trash, the patient’s personal bag, or a recycling bin are not appropriate because they lack the containment and handling required for infectious waste and could expose staff, other patients, or the community to the bacteria. Always follow the facility’s biohazard disposal policy and perform hand hygiene after disposal.