Definition - What does Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus mean?
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that is resistant to most antibiotics used to treat Staphylococcus Aureus. Often called a superbug, MRSA is especially prevalent where equipment is shared or there is a high concentration of people such as in hospitals. The infection can be defined by the environment in which it was contracted. For example, health care-associated or community-associated. MRSA is carried by some individuals without developing an active infection or showing any symptoms.
SureHire explains Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) can be acquired through close contact with a person who already has the disease or who is a carrier. It is usually passed on through contact with an infected wound or personal items that make contact with the infected wound. Because of its hardiness, MRSA infections are common in hospitals where it is not always killed by traditional sterilization techniques. Because of this and the rapid rate at which MRSA is becoming resistant to more and more antibiotics, testing for MRSA during surgery has become common procedure at most hospitals. Should MRSA test positive on a rapid test, samples are sent for culture testing, that can take several days, in order to determine which drug is capable of killing the specific MRSA mutation.
However, community-related infections outside of hospital settings are now gaining in numbers. It is noted that professional as well as collegiate football players are at risk because of the close contact, the time spent in locker room settings, and the number of scratches and cuts. People most likely to develop MRSA are those spending time in schools, long-term care institutions, hospitals, and dialysis facilities. There is also a high risk of contracting MRSA where invasive procedures such as surgery or implants occur.
Staph bacteria generally live in two places: on the skin and in the nose. There have been studies that conclude that about one in three people carry this bacterium in their nose without becoming ill themselves.
Symptoms of MRSA may include a painful, red, and swollen bump on the skin which may be accompanied by fever in the patient. Treatment of MRSA often requires months of IV antibiotics administered through a PICC line that is inserted deep into one of the main veins leading into the heart.
