How to Treat MRSA in Children

MRSA is an abbreviation of an infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of staph bacteria resistant to common broad-spectrum antibiotics. This contagious bacteria used to be fairly limited to hospitals and commonly found in post-surgical patients, but these days MRSA is showing up more in the general public than in health care facilities. Learning how to identify and treat MRSA in children will help prevent its spread.

Things You'll Need

• Alcohol-based hand-washing gels

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Instructions

• 1

  Check your child for signs of MRSA exposure, which may include the appearance of small, red, pimple-type bumps on the skin's surface. These can quickly become open sores with drainage. The skin may be warm to the touch, and the discharge may have a bad smell. If you spot such signs in your child, visit your family doctor immediately.

• 2

  Follow the doctor's instructions regarding tests and diagnosis techniques. The doctor will ask for nasal secretions or perhaps a tissue sample to test for the presence of the bacteria. While waiting for results, keep the child isolated from others and ensure that other family members are not using the same towels or clothing as the child.

• 3

  Give medication as directed by the doctor. Vancomycin is often prescribed for MRSA. Combination drug treatments may also be used.

• 4

  Encourage everyone in the family to wash their hands regularly and carry an alcohol-based, antibiotic hand-washing gel with you when you leave home. This is one of the best measures to prevent the spread of MRSA.

• 5

  Keep cuts and scrapes covered if your child has MRSA and is injured in any way. This will prevent the spread of MRSA bacteria and encourage healing.