MRSA is the acronym for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a strain of staph bacteria that has become resistant to certain classes of antibiotics historically used in the treatment of staphylococcus aureus infections. MRSA has been more prevalent in hospital and nursing home settings, but is increasingly being reported in the general community--hence the term "community-associated MRSA." MRSA infection may develop almost anywhere on or in the body, but staph and MRSA infections begin on the skin and are then transferred to other parts of the body by the hands or through skin to skin contact.
A Sore or Boil
The CDC's National MRSA Education Initiative website reports that the first signs of an MRSA infection of the skin may be a hard, painful pimple, sore or boil. The sore may look infected and may or may not begin oozing infectious material. There is no distinguishing difference between a staph infection and an MRSA infection. MRSA is staph that is simply resistant to the usual antibiotic treatment options. The only way to be sure there is an MRSA organism present is for the doctor to take a culture at the site of the infection and to review the results. A susceptibility report will differentiate between resistant and non-resistant staph organisms.
A Skin Eruption or Abscess
MRSA infected skin eruptions are sometimes confused with spider bites. MRSA infections may also begin as rashes that itch and are scratched with the fingers, which deposit the bacteria from the skin into the wound.
An Infected Wound
Hospitals admit populations of people who may have acute or chronic illnesses and declining immune systems. These patients tend to be more susceptible to MRSA infections. Surgical wounds may become infected with MRSA organisms due to their presence on the patient's skin. The organisms may also be transferred to the patient on the hands of health care workers when sufficient hand washing is not performed. The National Institutes of Health website, MedlinePlus, reports that MRSA can migrate into the bloodstream, causing a septic condition and systemic illness. When fever accompanies the signs and symptoms of an MRSA infection, it is very important to notify the physician as soon as possible.
References
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Community-Associated MRSA Information for the Public
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: MRSA and the Workplace
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention: National MRSA Education Initiative: Preventing MRSA Skin Infections
- National Institutes of Health--MedlinePlus: MRSA
