What Is the Prognosis for Someone Getting MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a type of staph infection that cannot be treated by some of the antibiotics typically used for staph infections. People get infections when staph enters the body and it can cause complications, such has pneumonia, or even be fatal.

Symptoms

• If you have a MRSA infection, the infected area may be red and swollen. You may also experience pain, notice pus drainage, or have a fever.

Testing

• Doctors test for MRSA by taking a blood, urine, or skin culture.

Treatment

• Doctors try to treat MRSA by draining the abscess or by prescribing antibiotics, such as daptomycin, tetracycline, or linezolid. Depending on the severity of the infection, some patients may need to be admitted to the hospital and will be given antibiotics intravenously.

Prognosis

• The prognosis for a patient suffering from MRSA depends on his overall health and the severity of the infection. MRSA can be fatal if the person has a weakened immune system or if MRSA gets into the bloodstream. If the person is in good health and responds well to the antibiotics, she is likely to recover.

Considerations

• Wash your hands frequently to help prevent getting a staph infection. Keep open wounds bandaged until they are healed.