Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is type of staph infection caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. They are resistant to certain broad-spectrum antibiotics and may lead to skin and other infections. MRSA is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with another person, or through contact with items touched by the infected area of a person with MRSA. Epidemiological facts about MRSA provide a better understanding of this increasingly common infection.
Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or staph, are generally harmless and present on the skin and in the nose of around 33 percent of the population. Healthy individuals are said to be "colonized" if they are infected with staph bacteria but do not have any signs or symptoms. Staph infections can cause minor skin problems if the bacteria enter the body through a cut or wound, and can cause more serious illness in people who have weakened immune systems.
How MRSA is Spread
Staph bacteria spread easily through cuts and abrasions associated with skin-to-skin contact. Several factors make it easier for MRSA to be transmitted including crowded conditions, frequent skin-to-skin contact, contaminated surfaces, lack of cleanliness and compromised skin with cuts or abrasions.
Symptoms of MRSA Infection
Staph skin infections, including MRSA, generally begin as small red bumps that resemble pimples or boils. The infected area may appear red, swollen, painful, and be full of fluid or pus. Infections that spread to the bloodstream can quickly develop into more serious infections such as pneumonia.
MRSA Treatment
Treatment often requires a visit to a health care professional where the infection may be drained and cleaned, and in some cases, medication may be prescribed. While MRSA does not respond to treatment with antibiotics (referred to as beta-lactams) such as penicillin, amoxicillin, methicillin and others, certain medications are still available to treat resistant strains of infection. It is important to follow-up with your doctor if worsening symptoms occur.
High-risk Groups
Anyone can become infected with MRSA; however, it is more common for it to spread in unclean, crowded areas such as schools, dormitories, daycare centers, and correctional institutions. This is referred to as community-associated MRSA. When infection occurs in long-term care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, dialysis centers or other health care settings, it is referred to as health care-associated MRSA. MRSA spreads among athletes who share towels, uniforms, equipment or razors, and among athletes who play contact sports where skin-to-skin contact is common. Young children with immune systems that are not fully developed are more susceptible to infection, as are people with weakened immune systems due to HIV or AIDS.
Preventing MRSA Infection
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered, and see a health care professional promptly if signs of MRSA appear. Practice good hand-hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water. Avoid contact with other people's skin wounds, and avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razorblades to prevent MRSA infection.
