Facts About Mrsa

MRSA is a serious condition and it kills thousands of people every year. Because it is a serious public health issue, medical researchers continue to gather information on MRSA and come up with new ways of combating the infection.

Definition

• MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The staph bacteria that cause MRSA have become resistant to most common antibiotic treatments such as amoxicillin, methicillin and penicillin.

Where Acquired

• MRSA infections are most commonly acquired in hospital and other healthcare settings by people who have weak or weakened immune systems. Interestingly, MRSA can also be acquired by individuals who have not been hospitalized. This is referred to as community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA).

Symptoms

• MRSA typically starts as a skin infection. Common signs include small puss filled red bumps that may progress into an open abscess or sore.

Progression

• Left untreated or in advanced stages, MRSA may also enter the body, where it can be especially deadly, causing serious infection in vital organs such as the heart. MRSA has also been known to attack the bones and lungs.

Spreading MRSA

• MRSA is spread through skin to skin contact. However, this does not always have to be direct. MRSA can live on surfaces such as counter tops and can also be passed by touching things such as infected clothing.

Treatment

• MRSA is treated with either one or a combination of non "cilin" antibiotics. Commonly used antibiotics include Clindamycin, Vancomycin, Rifampin and Bactrim.