Most of us have heard about the trend where infection-causing bacteria get stronger than the standard antibiotics we use to kill them.
You might have heard of this issue as "staph" infections and that they are most frequently found in the hospital setting. The technical term is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
MRSA bacteria have developed resistance to methicillin and other penicillin-based antibiotics. The medical profession and consumers take this trend seriously because it means that the typical antibiotics used to treat infections are becoming ineffective. MRSA has been around for years in the hospital setting, affecting those with significant illnesses.
Dr. Brendan Furlong offers advice on how to prevent "staph" infections.
This topic is important because so-called "staph" infections are becoming more common in the community setting outside the hospital. In the early part of this decade, we began to see this bacterium as a more common cause of skin infection in the community among patients whose immune systems are weakened, such as people with AIDS. In the past few years, the bacterium has become more prevalent in the community, even among those who are healthy. Alternative antibiotics remain very effective in treating MRSA infections, but the medical community must carefully evaluate its approach to patients with certain types of infection.
Skin infections are the most common types of MRSA infections. Skin infections with MRSA typically occur in areas with hair or creases in the skin. Often, though not always, someone will have a break in the skin like a minor scratch or rash such as eczema. These areas serve as an entry point for the bacteria. The infection may start as a pimple-like eruption or a boil and can become red, warm, swollen and painful. If the infection becomes deeper or spreads, the patient can experience fever, chills, weakness, and fatigue. In addition to skin infections, MRSA can cause pneumonia, blood infections and other internal infections.
The treatment for MRSA greatly depends on the site and severity of the infection. Often, treatment involves more than one antibiotic. Cleansing the site of infection, if it is on the skin, is also a very important part of the treatment process.
MRSA typically is transmitted by direct contact with the skin or body fluids of someone else who is affected. However, infected bodily fluids on any surface can be a source of infection.
Infection Prevention Tips
- Keep your hands clean either by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using alcohol-based skin cleansers like Purell®.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, clothing and razors.
- Wash wounds thoroughly and cover them until they are appropriately healed.
- If you are caring for someone with an open wound, be sure to wash your hands carefully both before and after coming into contact with bandages or the infected area.
- Be sure to dispose of bandages safely. Finally, overuse of antibiotics or failure to complete the full course of the appropriately prescribed antibiotic can contribute to the emergence of resistant bacteria like MRSA.
- Be sure to follow the advice and prescribing instructions of your doctor.
Common sense about cleaning small wounds and bandaging them will keep people safe, in general. And see your doctor if any skin or other infections occur.
