MRSA, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a highly antibiotic resistant germ. A variety of antibiotics cannot kill MRSA and are ineffective in treatment. Ineffective antibiotics include methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The University of North Texas Health and Wellness Center points out that MRSA is often referred to as a type of staph infection. Initial symptoms of a MRSA infection include redness, swelling and pain. Boils, abscesses and pustules commonly appear on the skin. Severe complications and hospitalizations occur when the infection remains untreated. The CDC reports that in 2005, nearly 95,000 patients developed serious, invasive MRSA infections.
Types of MRSA
According to MedlinePlus, two different types of MRSA infections exist: hospital acquired and community based. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 85 percent of MRSA infections are hospital acquired. The CDC adds that it is unknown how community based MRSA spreads, but it is a different strain than hospital acquired. Some believe the community based MRSA is present because of the overuse of antibiotics. Different risk factors are associated with the two different types of MRSAs. The elderly and patients with weak immune systems are at high risk of infection during a hospital stay. An invasive medical procedure or staying in a long-term care facility places a person at additional risk of a MRSA infection. Risk factors for community acquired MRSA include homosexuality, living in crowded conditions and participating in contact sports, according to MayoClinic.com.
Treatment
According to the CDC, the primary method of treatment involves incision and drainage of a MRSA infected wound. Unresponsive wounds to the incision and drainage require antimicrobial medication therapy. Though MRSA infections remain unresponsive to some antibiotics, other pharmacological interventions are beneficial. Medications used for treatments include clindamycin, tetracyclines and linezolid. Leaving a MRSA infection untreated allows the bacteria to spread to other parts of the body, including the heart, lungs and bloodstream, causing serious systemic infections.
Prevention
A diagnosis of MRSA in a hospital setting requires the presence of isolation procedures to control the infection. Implementation of protection control procedures includes strict hand washing, and wearing of protective garments, advises MayoClinic.com. Thorough hand washing techniques and not sharing personal items, such as towels and razors, prevents the spread of community based MRSA. A person should cover all cuts and abrasions with sterile bandages, and keep wounds clean and dry until fully healed. People participating in contact sports should shower after all games and practices to decrease risk of infection, according to MayoClinic.com.
References
- University of Northern Texas: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- National Institutes of Health: Facts and Ideas from Anywhere
- Centers for Disease Control: Treatment Algorithm for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
- MayoClinic.com: MRSA Infection
