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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
infection is a more severe and potentially life threatening infection that most
commonly occur among patients in the health care settings. It’s a kind of staph
bacteria which is resistant to specific antibiotics named beta-lactams. These
include the antibiotics methicillin and other more common antibiotics being
used such as amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin.
What causes
MRSA?
It is usually spread by having contact with someone's skin infections or items that are contaminated with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infections.
In the Community
- Close skin-skin contact
- Openings in the skin (cuts and abrasions)
- Contaminated items and surfaces
- Crowded living conditions
- Poor hygiene
In Healthcare and Hospital Settings
- Infected patients
- Infected body sites of the healthcare personnel
- Use of items, devices, and environmental surfaces which are contaminated with body fluids containing MRSA
What are the
signs and symptoms?
Most MRSA infections are seen in skin infections. It
appears as boils or pustules that are often painful, red, swollen, and may have
pus or other drainage. It is commonly occurs in sites of visible skin trauma
like abrasions and cuts. Also, areas that are covered by hair like beard area
of men, armpit, back of neck, groin, and buttocks.
Why is it
life-threatening infection?
In severe cases in healthcare settings, MRSA
infections cause bloodstream infection, infections in the surgical site, and
pneumonia.
How to
Prevent MRSA?
Appropriate hand washing with water and soap
Hand hygiene with alcohol-based hand rubs
How to
protect yourself from MRSA?
If you are a healthcare provider and taking care of
a patient with MRSA infection, you should know how to protect yourself from getting
infected.
- Hand hygiene before and after touching your patient
- Use clean gloves
- Wear gown
- Wear disposable mask
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