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What You Need To Know About MRSA
If you follow the news, you may have noticed that the press has recently paid a great deal of attention to a bacteria strain called Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. One of the most common misconceptions about MRSA infections is that they are all healthcare associated (HA-MRSA). While the most serious infections are usually associated with healthcare, most infections more often are community associated (CA-MRSA).
MRSA is a strain of staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium frequently found on the skin or in the nose. Unfortunately, it has also become resistant to some antibiotics. It was first recognized in 1961 and has increased greatly since that time. It may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils and is often mistaken for a spider bite. The infections, however, may develop into a significant abscess.
Although anyone can get a staph infection, the risk of obtaining one is significantly increased for those who:
- Have skin to skin contact with someone who has a staph infection
- Come into contact with items and surfaces such as public phones or doorknobs that have MRSA bacteria on the surface
- Have openings in their skin such as cuts, scrapes, incisions, or burns
- Have overused antibiotics
- Have poor hygiene.
If you do obtain a staph infection, the good news is that most are minor and are easily treated with incision and drainage of the abscess and/or with the use of antibiotics. However, staph may also cause more serious infections such as infections of the bloodstream, surgical sites, or pneumonia. A small percentage of these more serious infections may start as a skin infection so it is important to contact your doctor if it is not improving.
Prevention of staph infections is not always possible but the risks can be reduced by paying attention to the following good hygiene practices:
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If you have a cut or scrape, wash it thoroughly and keep it clean and covered with a bandage
- Wash your hands frequently or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer
- Do not touch other people’s cut or bandages
- Do not share personal items such as towels or razors
- When exercising in a public area make sure all equipment is cleaned prior to your work out
At Pullman Regional Hospital, in order to protect our patients, anyone with a current MRSA infection or a history of a MRSA infection will be placed in “contact precautions” whenever they come to the hospital for care. This means that the staff will wear gloves and gowns when providing care. The purpose is to prevent possible transmission to any other patients or to staff.
If you or someone you know obtains a MRSA infection, there is an excellent resource available online at www.tpchd.org entitled “Living with MRSA”. This outlines methods for controlling the spread of MRSA. You can also obtain more information on MRSA by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
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