Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus “Staph” is a bacterium normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of general population. People who carry Staph but aren’t sick are said to be “colonized”.
Shortly after the introduction of methicillin in 1959, a new strain of Staph emerged that was resistant to this antibiotic. This “methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus” or MRSA was additionally found to be resistant to most other common antibiotics used to treat staphylococcal infection. For many years MRSA was generally confined to hospitals and health care facilities, however in the 1990’s a new type of MRSA began showing up in the community. These community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections were found to cause pneumonia and many serious skin and soft tissue ailments. Risk factors include young age, participation in contact sports, sharing towels or athletic equipment, having a weakened immune system, as well as living in crowded or unsanitary conditions.
To limit MRSA spread, it is very important to keep an eye on minor skin problems (pimples, insect bites, cuts, and scrapes) especially in children. If wounds become infected, see your doctor and ask to be tested for MRSA before starting antibiotic therapy. Drugs that treat ordinary Staph infections are not effective against MRSA and their use could lead to serious illness and more antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Prevention
Here at Clinical Laboratory Partners, we are pleased to say that our affiliated hospitals and long term care facilities are fighting back against MRSA infection with surveillance systems to track outbreaks and isolate colonized or infected patients. We also promote the use of antibiotic-coated medical equipment and gloves that contain disinfectants.
Recommendations to prevent colonization or infection with CA-MRSA at home:
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment. Wash gym and athletic clothes after each use. MRSA can spread on contaminated objects.
Cuts and abrasions should be kept clean and covered with sterile dry bandages until they heal. Pus from infected sores often contains MRSA and keeping wounds covered will prevent the bacteria from spreading.
Hand washing is a simple and best defense against germs. Wash hands frequently with soap and water and scrub briskly for at least 15 seconds. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer containing at least 62 percent alcohol for times when you do not have access to soap and water.
If you have a skin infection that requires treatment, ask your doctor if you should be tested for MRSA.