MRSA - What is it?

A MRSA infection is also known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA and also Hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA), which not only define what it is but how it is acquired. MRSA is an infection. It is a special infection because it is an infection with a strain of Staphyloccoccus aureaus bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics known as beta-lactams. These beta-lactams antibiotics include commonly prescribed antibiotics methicillin, amoxicillin and penicillin.

Staph is common bacteria that can be found on your skin. They can also be found living harmlessly in your nasal passage. They cause problems when they enter the skin through a cut or sore. Staph can also enter the body through a breathing tube or catheter. The infection can be minor or it can become more serious.

Usually Staph infections happen in individuals with weak immune systems. MRSA has been known to occur in hospitalized patients, patients in nursing homes or those receiving certain treatments, such as dialysis. Other individuals who are at high risk for contracting MRSA infections are those who share equipment or personal items (towels, razors) and include athletes, and children in daycare facilities.

Symptoms for MRSA are a skin abscess, drainage or pus and or other fluids from the wound, fever, and warmth around the infected area.

Serious Staph infection symptoms may be a rash, shortness of breath, fever, chills, chest pain, fatigue, muscle aches, a general feeling of not feeling well, headache.

Tests that can be performed to determine if MRSA is present include having a skin biopsy/culture from the infection site, a culture of the fluid from the infection, blood culture, sputum culture either from material gathered from coughing or from bronchoscopy, and also a urine culture.

Treatment consists of draining the abscess, usually done at a local doctor's office.

If a more serious infection is suspected than drugs such as Vancocin, Vancoled, Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra, Septra DS or Zyvox may be prescribed.

It is very important that if you are prescribed a medication that you finish all of it as prescribed, even if you feel better, you should finish the entire recommended dosages.

Treatments that may be prescribed for more serious infections may include supplemental oxygen, intravenous medication and in the case of kidney failure - dialysis.

MRSA pneumonia and blood poisoning both have high death rates.

Serious complications of MRSA infections can lead to Cellulitis, Endocarditis, Toxic shock syndrome, Pneumonia and also Blood poisoning.

Organ failure and also death can and do result from untreated MRSA infections, so it is important that if you suspect MRSA infection, that you seek medical attention immediately.