MRSA is a medical abbreviation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA infections can be dangerous because methicillin is typically the first line of treatment for staph infections. In addition, MRSA infections are typically resistant to other antibiotics, which can make them very difficult to treat. As a result, MRSA infections can be very serious and require careful treatment.
Step 1
Drain the skin lesion. MRSA staph infection typically cause abscesses or sores on the skin. According to the NIH, a local skin abscess can often be treated effectively simply by draining the sore, which can be done at a doctor's office.
Step 2
Culture the bacteria. This can be done by taking a small sample of the liquid from the abscess and spreading it out evenly on a Petri dish that has been coated with some compound that can grow bacteria (such as agar). Individual bacteria cells will grow and form small circles of growing bacteria.
Step 3
Test for antibiotic susceptibility: Place a small disk of an antibiotic on an agar plate and then to spread the MRSA bacteria uniformly over the plate. After a few days, have a microbiologist check if the bacteria is unable to grow near the antibiotic to determine if the bacteria is "susceptible" or "resistant."
Step 4
Treat the bacteria with antibiotics to which it is susceptible. These antibiotics will be given orally and may include clindamycin, tetracycline and vancomycin. Take every dose of the antibiotics you are prescribed.
Step 5
Receive supportive treatment. If you have complications from an infection, you may need intravenous fluid and medications, kidney dialysis and supplemental oxygen.
