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MRSA Prevention & Treatment

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus) is a serious staph infection that is resistant to a wide range of antibiotics used to treat other staph infections. MRSA infections can be mild or severe and can be deadly. Fortunately, there are many things a person can do to prevent and treat this infection.

  1. MRSA Basics

    • The Mayo Clinic reports that Staphylococcus is a bacterium that lives in the nasal cavity of 1/3 of the human population. MRSA commonly occurs in hospitals and other healthcare settings. However, it has now migrated out and can also occur in schools, homes and various other places. The Mayo Clinic reports that it is now believed that sharing things like sports equipment has caused the bacteria to spread outside health care facilities and is causing infections in otherwise healthy individuals. The infection is difficult to treat because it is resistant to many common antibiotics. People who have a weak immune system, the elderly, infants and children are the most susceptible to this infection.

    Prevention in the Hospital

    • To prevent MRSA while in the hospital, the Mayo Clinic suggests following a few simple steps. Ask all hospital staff and visitors to wash their hands or use alcohol based hand sanitizer before touching you.Frequently wash your hands. Make sure that all medical procedures are being done under sterile conditions.

    Prevention in the Community

    • Prevention can also be done at home and in the community. The Mayo Clinic suggests that you do the following. Wash hands frequently and carry alcohol based hand sanitizer with you for use when you do not have access to water. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, athletic equipment, sheets and razors. Keep cuts and wounds covered. Sanitize linens with bleach when possible.
      Shower after athletic games or exercising in a facility. Do not practice or play sports when you have an infection or wound. Get tested by a physician if you have a sore, wound or infection that will not heal. Use antibiotics as prescribed. Do not stop taking until the prescription is gone or as your physician recommends.

    Medications Used in Treatment

    • As stated above, MRSA is not easily treated with most antibiotics. As a result, The Mayo Clinic reports that the most commonly relied on medication to treat MRSA is vancomycin. However, some hospitals are reporting that they are seeing some MRSA strains that are becoming resistant to vancomycin. However, scientists are trying to work on developing drugs that will successfully treat this strain of MRSA.

    Other Treatment

    • Sometimes a MRSA infection does not need to be treated with medications. The Mayo Clinic reports that physicians may choose to drain a MRSA abscess rather than treat it with medications. However, this is not done in all cases.

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