Why is MRSA also known as a hospital bug?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known as a hospital bug because it is often acquired in healthcare settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and dialysis centers. These environments have a higher concentration of people with weakened immune systems and increased use of medical devices and antibiotics, which can contribute to the spread of MRSA.

Factors contributing to the acquisition of MRSA in healthcare settings include:

1. Close contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces: MRSA can spread through direct contact with an infected person or surfaces contaminated with the bacteria.

2. Inadequate hand hygiene: Healthcare workers' failure to wash their hands properly and consistently can contribute to the transmission of MRSA between patients and within the healthcare setting.

3. Indwelling medical devices: Devices such as intravenous lines, catheters, and ventilators can serve as entry points for MRSA to enter the body, especially if proper sterile procedures are not followed during insertion or maintenance.

4. Antibiotic overuse: The widespread and often unnecessary use of antibiotics in healthcare settings creates selective pressure for bacteria like MRSA to develop resistance, leading to their survival and proliferation.

Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) strains are often more antibiotic-resistant compared to community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains found in non-healthcare settings. HA-MRSA infections can be severe and can cause a range of diseases, including skin and soft tissue infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia.

Effective infection prevention and control practices, rigorous adherence to hand hygiene protocols, proper use of antibiotics, and proper cleaning and sterilization of medical equipment are crucial to prevent the spread of MRSA and other healthcare-associated infections.