Death From a MRSA Skin Infection

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, better known as MRSA (pronounced "mersa"), is a serious, contagious infection that can be life-threatening if left untreated. MRSA has become widespread in recent years; according to the Centers for Disease Control, it killed more people in the United States in 2005 than HIV/AIDS (18,650 vs. 17,011). Despite the alarming numbers, most cases of MRSA are successfully treated and death from MRSA is an exception.

Superbug?

• MRSA has been called a "superbug" by the media because it is resistant to almost all antibiotics that might be used to kill it. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, while MRSA comprised less than 2 percent of staphylococcal infections (or "staph") in the United States in 1974, by 2004 it comprised over 60 percent. While it used to be confined to hospitals and other health care settings, MRSA has become so widespread that we now differentiate between hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). In fact, the community-acquired strains are now showing up in the hospital setting.

Colonization

• Staph bacteria often live harmlessly on the skin and in the noses of colonized individuals and are responsible for many minor infections. Dr. James Steckelberg, infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., states that 30 percent of people are found to be colonized with staph at any given time, and a small percentage of these are colonized with MRSA. MRSA may not cause any symptoms in a healthy person, or a healthy person may be able to successfully fight the infection, but these carriers can transmit the organism to another susceptible person.

Skin Infections

• What may seem to be an innocuous-looking pimple or spider bite may, in reality, be harboring the MRSA bacteria. It may also be found in a boil, a sty or impetigo. Infection occurs when the bacteria enters the body through a skin lesion and begins to multiply. Left untreated, the skin lesion may develop into an abscess and cause cellulitis, which is infection and inflammation of the tissues beneath the skin. The bacteria may become more invasive, spreading to internal organs or the bloodstream. At this point, the infection becomes life-threatening.

Who is Most at Risk?

• Most at risk for MRSA infection are those currently or recently in a hospital setting and those with weakened immune systems. People at the extremes of age (the very young or the very old) or those with chronic conditions (such as diabetes) are also at higher risk. People with open wounds or entry points into their bodies from catheters or IV lines are at risk. Poor personal hygiene or crowded living conditions are also risk factors. Healthy people are not usually at risk for severe MRSA infection.

Treatment and Prevention

• MRSA should always be treated by a health care professional, who may drain the infection. It is extremely important not to do this on your own---you may make your infection worse or spread it to loved ones or co-workers. Despite its multidrug resistance, there are still some antibiotics effective against MRSA. Prevent MRSA by washing your hands often. Keep open sores and wounds bandaged. Don't share personal items such as towels or razors. Use antibiotics only as necessary and only as directed by your doctor. Most importantly, see your doctor if an infected wound is not healing quickly.