MRSA Infection Causes

Staphylococcus aureus causes methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infections. MRSA can remain alive for days on surfaces and clothing. As its name suggests, it is resistant to the antibiotics used to treat the infection. An MRSA infection can be painful and cause permanent damage, and even death.

Types

• Most cases of MRSA infections occur in health care settings, such as hospitals, dialysis centers and nursing homes. HA-MRSA, or health care associated-MRSA, most often afflicts the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Another type of MRSA spread throughout a community of otherwise healthy people is called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA. CA-MRSA can cause skin infections, serious pneumonia and soft-tissue infections.

Symptoms

• Because MRSA is a staph infection, it begins like other staph skin infections. It will usually start with little red bumps on the skin that may resemble spider bites or pimples. They quickly turn into deeper abscesses, which may require draining. The staph bacteria can travel deeper than the skin into the joints, bones, blood, lungs and heart.

Causes

• Staph bacteria, which live on about one-third of humans, cause the infections. While generally harmless, the bacteria can wreak havoc if they enter an open wound or cut. This most often happens to those with weakened immune systems but can also occur when healthy people share things, such as athletes sharing items in the locker room.

Antibiotics

• MRSA is resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria have developed this resistance over time due to years of antibiotic overuse. In the past, antibiotics were prescribed for viral infections and other conditions that would clear up on their own. The staph bacteria that causes MRSA has learned to adapt to these antibiotics rendering them ineffective.

Risks

• People who are at risk of a HA-MRSA infection are those who live in a long-term care facility, are being hospitalized or undergoing chemotherapy or have recently undergone dialysis or catheterization. CA-MRSA infections occur in young people, health care workers, athletes or those living in crowded or unsanitary conditions. Any break in the skin can introduce staph bacteria.

Prevention

• Hand washing is the best measure to prevent the spread of MRSA. Alcohol based hand sanitizer is a good alternative if hand washing is not possible. In a health care setting, sterile procedures should be followed for invasive procedures. Other measures include not sharing personal items with others and showering after athletic activities. Also, open wounds should be kept clean and covered.