Living With MRSA Infection

MRSA is short for methicilllin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Yes, it's a mouthful to say, which is why it's known in the health and medical field as MRSA (pronounced "mersa"). As the name implies, MRSA is a type of staph infection, but with a twist: it's resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. In short, MRSA is one of those superbugs that can be acquired in hospitals.
Risks for acquiring MRSA increase for people with weakened immune systems, but more and more healthy people are being diagnosed with MRSA. Not only is it drug resistant, but it is also highly contagious.
Learning how to live with a MRSA infection requires care and attention to details. You need to protect yourself as well as your friends, family members and health-care providers.

Things You'll Need

• Disposable gloves
• Bleach
• Mask
• Paper towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Wearing a mask is one of the first things you will be told to do if you have MRSA. To avoid spreading the infection to others, avoid going out in public unless it's absolutely necessary. Any time you are around others, wear a mask. This protects others from the infection. Don't be hurt or offended by this necessity. Anyone who provides care for you will be required to wear gloves and a gown to prevent exposure to bacteria that may be expelled from your bodily fluids as well as respiration droplets.

• 2

  Take care when doing laundry. MRSA bacteria clings to clothing, bedding, towels and everything else with which you come into contact. Wear disposable gloves when touching any items that you have worn or that a family member diagnosed with MRSA has touched. Wash laundry in warm or hot water, with bleach.

• 3

  Wash your hands frequently. Follow basic prevention measures such as covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Bathe every day, and don't share personal hygiene items with anyone else. Except for toweling off after bathing, use paper towels that can be thrown away.

• 4

  Take care of your skin. MRSA lives in the skin, and any wound---no matter how slight---allows entrance. Your skin is contagious to others as well, so take care not to touch others while you are infected.

• 5

  Disinfect your home regularly. Wear gloves and use a bleach solution of 1 Tbsp. bleach per 1 qt. water. Clean surfaces, including doorknobs, counters, furniture---anything that you come into contact with every day. Clean surfaces twice just to be safe.