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. MRSA (pronounced mersa) is especially prevalent where equipment is shared or there is a high concentration of people such as a hospital. The infection is usually categorized according to the environment in which it was contracted - either health care-associated or community-associated. MRSA in the workplace can be contagious and can cause medical problems of varying severity from pneumonia to life-threatening sepsis if left untreated.
SureHire explains Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MRSA can be acquired through close contact with a person who already has the disease. It is usually passed on through contact with an infected wound or personal items that make contact with the infected wound.
In past years it was quite common for a hospital patients to be the primary sufferers of a MRSA infection. However, community-related infections are gaining in numbers. It is noted that professional ,as well as collegiate football players, are at risk because of the close contact 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.
The MRSA bacteria generally live in two places: on the skin and in the nose. Overuse of antibiotics may cause new strains of bacteria to be resistant to common prescriptions. As it is known now, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to many antibiotics. There have been studies that conclude that about one in three people carry this bacterium in their nose without becoming ill themselves, although they could pass on the infection to others.
Symptoms of MRSA include a painful, red and swollen bump on the skin which may be accompanied by fever in the patient. However, it is important to note that MRSA is a complex condition and symptoms may not appear until an infection is well advanced. There are also cases of bacteria colonization without infection that must be treated before the colony can spread to a more susceptable organ.
