What Is MRSA??

Updated on October 30, 2007
T.P. asks from Garrett, IN
9 answers

I have been hearing about MRSA and that it is deadly. I have no idea what it is other than it is an infection that cant be cured by antibiotics. Other than that I have no clue what it is. I have tried to google it, but it hasnt been very informative. They have found a case close to where I live with a student. I'm starting to get a little worried because I have a two year old daughter. I would like to know as much about it as possible. Like if you get it in one spot can it spread to another, can it be passed form one person to another, is it curable? Thanks

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

The facts about...

MRSA


What is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium often found in 20-30% of the noses of normal healthy people and is also commonly found on people's skin. Most strains of this bacterium are sensitive to many antibiotics and infections can be effectively treated. Staphylococcus aureus which are resistant to an antibiotic called methicillin are referred to as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. Many commonly prescribed antibiotics are not effective against these bacteria. Some MRSA strains occur in epidemics, indicated by an 'E' before MRSA eg EMRSA-16, EMRSA-3 and may be distinguished from others by a number of special laboratory techniques.

Is MRSA dangerous?
MRSA rarely, if ever, presents a danger to the general public. It is no more dangerous or virulent than methicillin-sensitive S. aureus but it is more difficult to treat. This bacterium is usually confined to hospitals and in particular to vulnerable or debilitated patients. These include patients in intensive care units, burns units, surgical and orthopaedic wards. Some nursing homes have experienced problems with this bacterium. MRSA does not pose a risk to the health of hospital staff , unless they are suffering from a debilitating disease, or family members of an affected patient or their close social or work contacts. Therefore the friends or family of such a patient need not take any special precautions and should not be discouraged from normal social contact.

What does MRSA cause?
Most patients from whom MRSA is isolated are colonised with this organism rather than infected. Colonisation means the presence of the organism on the skin, or in the nose, or in the back of the throat but without any illness. However, if the patient also has a fever and inflammation associated with the presence of MRSA then they are considered to be infected. A proportion of patients become infected particularly if they have been put at greater risk, such as following an operation, or have a malignancy, or the presence of a bladder catheter, intravenous infusion or surgical drain. These patients may then develop illnesses similar to those caused by methicillin-sensitive S. aureus such as wound and skin infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and bacteraemia or 'blood poisoning'.

How is MRSA treated?
Colonisation with MRSA in the absence of illness or clinical evidence of infection may be treated with surface applied agents. This includes using special antibiotics, eg mupirocin, applied inside the nose, as well as washing, bathing and hair washing with disinfectants eg chlorhexidine. These measures will help reduce the possibility of the patient becoming infected or spreading the bacterium to another patient. Where infection is present, antibiotics commonly used to treat methicillin-sensitive S. aureus such as flucloxacillin, erythromycin and the cephalosporins, are not effective and the patient will require treatment with other antibiotics such as vancomycin or teicoplanin. These last two antibiotics are expensive, may be toxic and have to be given by intravenous infusion. Patients infected with MRSA must therefore be treated in hospital. This is only one of the reasons why considerable effort is made to try and prevent the spread of this organism.

How is spread of MRSA prevented?
Scrupulous handwashing by hospital staff before and after contact with patients and before any procedure, is the single most important infection control measure. It is most likely to prevent spread of MRSA from one patient to another, or from patient to member of staff who may subsequently pass the bacterium on to other patients. Patients with MRSA should be physically isolated in a single room with the door remaining closed and the room regularly damp dusted, or they should be nursed in a special ward away from other non-infected patients. The patient's notes should be clearly labelled 'MRSA' so that this type of accommodation is provided if and when they are admitted to hospital at any time in the future. It is important that the clinician looking after the patient in hospital notifies the general practitioner. If this has not already been done, then the patient or their family should mention to their general practitioner that they are carrying MRSA. This information should also be passed to any hospital to which the patient may be admitted in the future to ensure physical separation or isolation immediately on admission and hence reduce the possibility of spread to others. The use of antibiotics such as those applied inside the nose and bathing procedures previously described, will also help to reduce the risk of spread. Finally, when such a patient is discharged from hospital, their room should be comprehensively cleaned and all linen and other clinical waste disposed of in special bags.

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H.F.

answers from Lafayette on

I actually have the MRSA staph infection. I believe I contracted it when I was in the hospital having my second child--my daughter. Every now and then--rarely--I may break out in skin infections (i.e. boils) that are painful, but I usually take an antibiotic and use some ointment, and they go away. When I was breastfeeding my daughter, I contracted mastitis, and the antibiotics they gave me weren't working, so I had to go into the hospital and take a super strong antibiotic (Vancomiacin) by IV. As far as I know, it's not curable. And up until I heard all that crap on the news, I wasn't worried. My doctors never advised me to be worried. Now, I will be checking in to make sure me and my family are okay. My fiancee' has it, and my children probably have it to, so we're hoping and praying that all is okay.

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

My son was diagnosed with MRSA and they cured him with Rocephin shots. He got it from a untreated uninary tract infetion. That got into his blood. He was 8 months old. So I didn't even know he had an infection. He had to get 5 painful shots (Dec. 24 - 27, 2004)and he slept for about 2 - 4 hrs. after them. They didn't say it was spreadable, he had no skin irritation. He just suddenly spiked a temperature of 104. That was the only reason I found out, after taking him to emergency room. Any how, he is 3 now and he has had no adverse effects.

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M.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hello T.,

Well I will do my best.. We just had a letter sent home from our school and I will tell you what it says.

MRSA is a Kind of Staph Infection. Over the years it has chnaged causing more healty adults and children to become infected.

Mrsa is Commonly found in the skin or nose of health people and does not cause infection

Most MRSA infections are mild skin infections that may appera as a pimple or boil. It may be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. These infections can occur at the sites of visible skin injury, such as cuts or abrasions.

Almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated by drainage of pus with or without antibotics. More serious infections, such as bloodstrem or bone infections or pneumonia from MRSA, are very rare in healthy people who get MRSA skin infections.

Healthy people are generally at low risk for developings MRSA infections

HOW IT IS SPREAD

MRSA is almost always spread by direct skin to skin contact

MRSA can also be spread by contact with shared items or sufraces that have come into contact with someone else's infection; such as towels, clothes, bandages, or sports equipment.

HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF FROM GETTING MRSA

Practice good hygiene: HAND WASHING FOR 20 SECONDS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURE TP PRVENT MRSA TRANSMISSION; USE AN ALCOHOL SANITIZER...(WE KEEP THIS IS OUR CAR ALONG WITH COLORX WIPES FOR SHOPPING CARTS. WE WIPE THEM OFF. WE ALSO USED TO CARRY A CAN OF LYSOL IN ARE DIAPER BAG FOR WHEN WE HAD TO USE A CHANGING TABLE.. CALL ME PARNOID)

SHOWER IMMENDIATELY AFTER PARTICIPATING IN EXERCISE

COVER SKIN ABRASIONS OR CUTS WITH A CLEAN DRY BANDAGE UNTIL HEALED.

WASH SOILED LINENS AND CLOTHES WITH HOT WATER AND LANDURAY SOAP. DRYING CLOTHES IN A HOT DRYER, RATHER THEN AIR DRYING, ALSO HELPS KILL BACTERIA

THE LETTER GOES ON TO SAY..

SCHOOL SHOULD BE NOTIFIED

STUDENTS WITH MRSA INFECTIONS SHOULD NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM ATTENDING SCHOOL UNLESS DIRECTED BY DOCTOR.

ALSO IF YOUR CHILDREN ATTEND A DAY CARE MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE USING DISINFECTANTS TO CLEAN TABLES, DESKS, MATS BATHROOMS.

I HONESTLY DO NOT THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT JUST DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILDREN TO DRINK OR EAT AFTER ANYONE. MAKE SURE THEY WAS THERE HANDS OFFTEN AND KEEP ALL THERE WOUNDS COVERED.

ALSO I HAVE INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING WEB SITE THAT MAY BEABLE TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AS "WHY NOT EXCLUDE THEM FROM SCHOOL"
I HOPE THIS HELPS AND EASES YOUR MIND A TAD... GOD BLESS

http://www.csmfoundation.org/Indiana_State_Guidelines_for...

OR

http://www.in.gov/isdh/healthinfo/mrsa.htm

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S.X.

answers from Chicago on

My husband, myself and my son all caught MRSA. I believe it was on an AIRPLANE. After we got off i got a bug bite that wouldn't heal and started spreading up my arm (red streaks). My son and husband got rid of theires naturally as the infections Popped or whatever you want to call it, and took antibiodics... and we all decolonized (special soap for your butt and stuff to put in your nose). Mine however was so bad, i was in the hospital for 3-4 days on IV antibiodic, and the worst part is they had to cut open my wrist and leave the wound open to heal. My tiny bug bite was bigger than a golf ball. It was disgusting. I have a nastey scar. Thank god it didn't travel into my joints or my blood stream. There is/was only one antibiodic that treats it, and hope you aren't allergic. I was but not life threatening so it was very uncomfortable to say the least. The funny part is, MRSA has been around but mostly in hospitals and retirement centers. Someone next to you can sneeze and if you get a cut in that spot BAM you get it. I see you got a ton of info from other people so i just thought i'd share my story.

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D.C.

answers from Toledo on

MRSA is really bad right now. It can't be cured by antibiotics and it's really contagious. Is your daughter in daycare? If so, I would speak to the daycare provider. I know there are several schools in my area that have been closed down due to MRSA. It's really nasty stuff!!!

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A.P.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter cought mrsa at 2 weeks old probably from the nicu at the hospital and it is very deadly she almost died. It is not something to just "ignore" as some have said. It is also not a disease of the month. I also work in the health care field and it is a horrable thing, its very scarry. You need to make sure that your children are always washing there hands after touching things.. I have 3 other children and thank God that they did not get it my daughter was in the hospuital on IV for 1 month...Hope this helps. I hope this does not scare you but it is awful....

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M.D.

answers from Terre Haute on

T., I work in a hospital and I have not yet contracted MRSA, nor has my famliy. Everyday there are atleast 2-4 patients alone on my wing of the hospital that have it. MRSA has been around a long long time. I am not sure why the media is making such a big stink about this, this infection is NOT new. Many many people live with MRSA everyday. Yes people die from it, but people also die from car accidents, but it doesn't stop people from driving. The number 1 way to prevent infection is proper handwashing. I understand that you are worried about the safety of your child, but the media is blowing this all out of proportion. Carry around hand sanitizer and use that when you go to the store, or open a door somewhere. That can help you keep protected. Just remember, wash your hands, wash your hands, and wash your hands. Teach your children the same thing. Instilling this into their brains early will help them in the long run.
Wash your hands!!
M.
P.S. Most that contract MRSA, contract it while they are in the hospital.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

MRSA's been around for awhile, but it seems as if it is the "disease of the month" right now.

Wash your hands with regular soap and water, practice good hygiene, and if something looks odd or unusual, see a doctor like you normally would for any other issue you might have.

I think the media is doing a great job whipping everyone into a frenzy over this. I'm not saying to ignore it, but use common sense and practice good hygiene and it shouldn't be a cause for great concern.

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