MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is an infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (staph). MRSA infections typically occur in hospitals or other hospital facilities, according to the Mayo Clinic. There are two main types of MRSA: the health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Within these two main types are several shared subtypes of infections, meaning regardless of where the bacteria are contracted, the resulting infection can be the same.
HA-MRSA
Health care-associated MRSA refers to types found in hospitals, nursing-care facilities or other health facilities. HA-MRSA often affects adults or patients with weakened immune systems because they are more susceptible to infection. This can be due to recent surgery, existing health condition complications or immunodeficiency diseases. The infection-causing bacteria can make their way through the health-care facilities through the air or by touch. Patients within a facility are likely to have open wounds, serious illness or to have come in close contact with MRSA-infected people.
CA-MRSA
Community-associated MRSA has made a recent appearance, states the Mayo Clinic. This type of MRSA is affecting generally healthy people in the greater community, meaning outside of medical facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out several populations who are at greater risk of contracting this type of infection. These include athletes, military recruits, Pacific Islanders, Alaskan natives, American Indians, men who have sex with men, and prisoners. According to the CDC, these groups are at an elevated risk for MRSA infection due to likelihood of skin-to-skin contact, more frequent skin wounds, shared use of contaminated items and surfaces, inadequate hygiene and cramped living conditions.
Specific Infection Types
Either type of MRSA can lead to skin infections, blood infection, pneumonia or urinary infection. Regardless of the setting, the staph bacteria can enter the body through any opening, including wounds, nostrils or through bodily fluids. Common infections associated with MRSA include serious infections of the skin, soft tissue and even pneumonia, the Mayo Clinic states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that such CA-MRSA infections appear as skin boils, abscesses or pimples. These same infections can occur in health-care settings as well.
Treatment of either form of MRSA includes the use of certain antibiotics still capable of killing the bacteria. These include vancomycin, tetracycline, doxycycline and clindamycin, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. Antibiotic use requires patients to complete the entire prescription as directed. Other treatment methods may include draining the fluids from an abscess or admission to a hospital. Hospital treatment may consist of intravenous (into the vein) medication or hydration, oxygen and kidney dialysis when needed, the UMM reports.
