Wound Cleaning & MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is a strain of staph infection that is resistant to most antibiotics. There are two types of MRSA: healthcare-associated or HA-MRSA, and community-associated or CA-MRSA. As the names imply, HA-MRSA is acquired in healthcare settings such as hospitals, dialysis centers and nursing homes by individuals, while CA-MRSA infection occurs in otherwise healthy individuals through contact anywhere in the community. MRSA varies in its effects, which range from mild skin lesions to fatal reactions. Careful wound cleaning practices must be adopted in order to prevent MRSA infection and/or spread.

Cause

• MRSA is caused by infection with the bacteria S. aureus. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately one third of the population carries these bacteria on their skin or in their noses but are not sick; these people are said to be colonized. Colonized individuals may be unaware that they carry these germs, but they can pass them on to others. Staph infection occurs through direct contact with infected objects or individuals or with colonized individuals. If a patient has any open wounds such as cuts or openings for IVs and catheters, the bacteria can then enter their bloodstream.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of MRSA infection vary. Infection may be localized and result in only minor skin irritations such as a pimple or an abscess. When staph penetrate the bloodstream they can cause symptoms such as fever, cough, chills, aches, chest pain and shortness of breath. Untreated, some of these symptoms could become life-threatening, according to Medline Plus.

Treatment

• MRSA will sometimes respond to certain antibiotics; often vancomycin is used in treating staph infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. In the case of minor skin infections, draining of abscesses may be all that is necessary. Wounds should be cleaned and dressed under sterile settings. When changing dressings, wounds should be properly irrigated to remove all pieces or fibers from the previous bandage. World Wide Wounds states that using silver-coated dressings has been shown to be effective against MRSA.

Antibiotic Resistance

• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, known as superbugs, occur for two reasons. The first is that bacteria evolve, mutate and adapt at a far higher rate than we do due to their short reproductive cycles. The second and more pertinent cause is human overuse of antibiotics. For many years, people have been taking antibiotics inappropriately for colds and flus, which are caused by viruses. We also use antibiotics in our soaps and cleaning products. While this will kill many germs it will not kill all of them; those who carry genetic mutations conferring resistance will survive; these are the bacteria that will become the "parents" of subsequent generations of bacteria that will all now carry these genes for antibiotic resistance.

Prevention

• The best forms of prevention are hand washing, not sharing hygiene products such as towels or razors, keeping wounds cleaned and covered with bandages and insisting that health care workers wash their hands before touching you. To prevent the spread of MRSA from one skin lesion to other areas of the body or to the healthcare worker, workers should wear masks, gloves and gowns during treatment.