Flesh-Eating Disease Health Video

Video Transcript

CLIFFORD SEWELL, MD: Hello. I'm Dr. Clifford Sewell. A brief message about flesh-eating disease. Recently, you may have read in the newspaper or seen on TV, reports of a flesh eating bacteria. The bacteria is called Staph aureus and it's also identified as MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staph aureus. Staph aureus is a very common bacteria on most of our skin every day. However, over the years of antibiotic use, it has developed a resistance. This methicillin-resistant Staph aureus is responsible for very serious infections. The infection can start as a very small cut or abrasion to the skin. The bacteria enters and causes a serious infection. The infection can travel quite quickly and requires surgery to debride the dying necrotic tissue. The most common place to acquire MRSA would be hospitals. Hospitals are working harder and harder to prevent MRSA transmission throughout their patients. Other locations could include gymnasiums or health clubs as well as daycare centers. Unfortunately, with all the resistance of the MRSA to antibiotics, there are only a few very potent antibiotics that are still effective. If you feel you have an infection on your skin, contact your doctor right away. An infection on the skin can start as a quite small area of redness, or heat, or tenderness and spread quite rapidly. So, at the first sign of redness or nonhealing wound, seek medical attention right away.