Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a common type of "staph" bacteria that has become resistant to certain antibiotics.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) MRSA it caused over 94,000 cases in 2005. Of that number, approximately 19,000 died from the infection.
MRSA in the Health Care Setting
Most of those cases were connected with strains of the bacteria found in health care settings such as hospitals, nursing homes and dialysis centers. This kind of infection is called a nosocomial infection. These occur most often in patients who have weakened immune systems such as those who have had surgery, are undergoing dialysis treatments or have contracted pneumonia.
Community Based MRSA
Community based strains of MRSA infections can manifest as a mild skin infection such as a pimple or boil that is red, swollen and painful. It can drain pus, and a fever usually develops.
Staph type bacteria lives on the skin and enters when the skin is broken such as by an incision or injury such as a scratch, cut or deep wound. Usually a staph infection can be cured by using methicillin antibiotics. MRSA is a type of staph bacteria that has mutated and is resistant to these methicillin antibiotics. It can be cured with other antibiotics, but early diagnosis is critical.
Colonized with MRSA
Many people carry the MRSA bacteria without any symptoms of infection. These people are known to be colonized with the bacteria. The bacteria is spread through skin to skin contact, by touching the infected person and then touching someone else.
Prevent the Spread!
Frequent handwashing using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and friction, will help to control or prevent the spread of MRSA in health care settings as well as throughout the community at large. When health care workers don't wash their hands between patients they can spread the MRSA. Many health care workers have become colonized as well.
MRSA Spreading in Schools
Recent outbreaks of MRSA have been discovered in schools. Unsanitary conditions such as those often found primarily in bathrooms and locker rooms are the most common areas where the bacteria has been found to colonize. But the bacteria can be spread from these locations if proper handwashing isn't followed.
For example, MRSA infections have become more common in contact sports such as wrestling and football as unsanitary conditions in a locker room have perhaps been spread from one individual to another because of poor handwashing either in the locker room or through subsequent contact on the playing field.
To prevent the spread of MRSA, wash your hands frequently, shower after sports and use a clean towel, cover any cuts or scratches with a clean bandage, and tell your coach if you have a skin infection.
Super Bugs
MRSA can be cured with other antibiotics, but this type of super bug has developed as germs have mutated to survive in the presence of antibiotics. Another form of super bug is VRE or vancomycin-resistant enterococci.
Enterococci is a bacteria normally found in the intestines and in the female genital tract. When the number of bacteria rises, or the person's immune system becomes weakened, an infection can result usually in the urinary tract or blood stream. If these bacteria have mutated and become resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin, a super infection can result.
MRSA and VRE have grown into super bugs primarily due to overuse of methicillin and vancomycin antibiotics. Environmental changes have contributed as well, but overprescribing of antibiotics is the main culprit. This is especially true when antibiotics have been prescribed for viral infections. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics; only bacteria is killed by antibiotics.
In a society where instant gratification has become somewhat the norm, the demand for antibiotics at the first symptom of a cold or flu (usually caused by a virus) has resulted in consequences.
In 1974 MRSA accounted for 2 percent of all staph infections. In 1995, 22 percent of the staph infections were due to MRSA;and by 2004, the number grew to 63 percent. With the number of MRSA infections rapidly increasing over the past thirty years, physicians have become more careful in prescribing antibiotics.
To prevent the spread of colds, flu and MRSA, effective handwashing is your best defense.
Sources:
JAMA, October 17,2007
