According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), staphylococcus aureus is bacteria commonly found on the skin of at least 25 percent of the population. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a strain of staph that is resistant to many of the antibiotics traditionally used to treat staph infections. MRSA is no more infectious than non-resistant staph, but antibiotic treatment options are limited. Because staph and MRSA live on the skin, they can be contagious. The bacteria may be transferred to others through contact with skin lesions, inhaling MRSA droplets, and introduction of the bacteria into the body and on the hands of health care workers in hospitals, nursing homes and extended-care facilities.
MRSA Lives on the Skin
Staphylococcus aureus and its antibiotic-resistant strain, MRSA, are found on the skin and in the nasal passages of a quarter of the population. People come in physical contact with each other multiple times a day--greeting, touching, shaking hands and sharing air space. The result of normal socializing may be enabling the transfer of staph and MRSA organisms from one person to the other.
Contact with MRSA Bacteria
MRSA, like other bacteria, are easily picked up by touching the skin of an infected person or by touching inanimate surfaces that have been touched by an infected person. Covering open, oozing or draining wounds with a bandage helps to reduce the risk of transmission to others. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology or APIC, says hand washing is the single most effective means of reducing transmission of bacteria and viruses.
Inhaling MRSA Bacteria
MRSA may find its way into nasal, upper and lower respiratory passages. When an infected person sneezes or coughs, the bacteria are propelled into the air by droplets and may travel 3 to 5 feet through the air and inhaled by others. Covering the mouth and nose while when you have active symptoms of respiratory infection helps to reduce the number of circulating bacteria in the air, according to the CDC.
MRSA and Kid Sports
Recently, attention has been focused on MRSA infections in a younger population, especially in those who engage in contact sports and playground activities. The skin is a natural barrier to infection; both staph and MRSA organisms may be living on the skin of normally healthy persons causing no active infection, until the integrity of the skin is broken. Contact sports and playground activities increase the risk of abrasions, cuts and bruises, allowing for bacterial penetration from the skin into surrounding tissues; these activities increase the potential for an MRSA infection. Keeping the skin clean before and after playing contact sports will reduce the number of bacteria that could be introduced into the body when the skin is broken.
Health Care Workers
MRSA carries the potential for transmission from one patient to the other on the hands of health care workers coming in contact with infected patients in hospitals, outpatient clinics and long-term care facilities. Preventing the transmission of MRSA at all levels of care is the major focus of APIC, the CDC, public health agencies and national professional health organizations. Hand washing and monitoring of MRSA cases is the key to accomplishing the Zero Tolerance for MRSA campaign, which these agencies support.
