All About MRSA

With recent cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus confirmed at an area high school, the antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which is no longer confined to the healthcare setting, is making its name known.

MRSA is a type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that are resistant to certain antibiotics including methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. First seen in the 1960s, new strains of MRSA have developed over the past 20 years due to the fact current antibiotics are inappropriately used or used too often. With improper antibiotic use, bacteria grow and divide and become resistant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA accounts for 94,000 serious infections and 19,000 deaths each year.

About 33 percent of humans carry MRSA on their skin or in their nose and never develop an infection. MRSA infections occur, however, when the bacteria gets into body tissues or the bloodstream and multiplies. The bacteria usually enter the body through a break in the skin, such as wound. Once infected, the sore can look like a spider bite or may have the appearance of a red, pus-filled pimple that is painful.

MRSA symptoms may include:

• Skin that is red, swollen or tender  
• Wounds that are slow to heal or become septic  
• Boils or abscesses in any part of the body  
• Fever, tiredness and headache with severe infections

How is MRSA diagnosed?

Blood or urine samples or a swab from a wound or drip site will be needed to diagnose MRSA. All samples must be sent to a laboratory.

What is the treatment for MRSA?

Although MRSA is resistant to several standard antibiotics, it can still be treated intravenously with the antibiotics Vancomycin and Teicoplanin. Carriers of MRSA (tests are available to identify them) can use special antibiotic nose creams, soaps, powders and shampoo to rid themselves of the bacteria, which can be quite difficult to kill.

To prevent spreading MRSA:

• Keep your hands and body as clean as possible by using soap and water or an alcohol hand gel frequently.
• Don’t share soap, towels, razors, clothing or equipment. 
• Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before meals.  
• Take antibiotics as instructed until gone.
• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and bandaged until they heal.
• Avoid touching the wounds or bandages of other people.