Mrsa Blood Infection

MRSA infections kill thousands of individuals every year. MRSA represents a serious health risk for those in hospitals and other institutionalized settings. Medical researchers and scientists continue to study MRSA to develop more effective ways of treating and preventing infection.

Identification

• MRSA stands for Methicillan-resistant Staphylococcus-aureus, a type of bacteria that is resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin, ocaxacillin, and amoxicillin have no effect on the MRSA infections.

Transmission

• MRSA bacteria is most often found in hospitals and other institutionalized settings. Those most frequently affected by MRSA are persons with immune systems that are already weakened by prior illness, age, or other causes.

CA-MRSA

• Another form of MRSA which affects people who have not been hospitalized or exposed in typical ways is community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). Exactly how persons acquire CA-MRSA remains unclear, but medical researchers continue to look for answers.

Initial Symptoms

• MRSA is a skin infection, and therefore the initial signs of MRSA infection are small red puss filled bumps on the skin.

Advanced Symptoms

• Advanced MRSA infection is characterized by the appearance of skin abscess, boils and pus filled lesions. These may become deep and painful and require surgical draining. If MRSA is not stopped at this stage it can infiltrate the blood stream and infect other organs of the body.

Treatment

• MRSA is treated with any number of antibiotics not in the "cilin" family such as Vancomycin, Bactrim, Rifampin or Clindamycin.