Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus Aureus

 

What it is:

 

Often referred to as “staph,” are bacteria normally found on the skin or nose of healthy people.

 Approximately 25% of the population is colonized in the nose with staph bacteria.  Staph infections are one of the most common causes of infection in the United States.  Methicillin is an antibiotic used to treat these types of infections.  However, some staphylococcus aureaus have developed a resistance to Methicillin.  This means that these staph are no longer killed by Methicillin and it can’t be used to treat these infections.  These staph are called Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).  MRSA occurs most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened physical conditions (ODP).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do we get it?

* Found in skin, nose, blood and urine of individuals.

* Touching another person.

* Sharing of personal items.

* Equipment surfaces contaminated with body fluids containing the MRSA bacteria.

* Transmission can occur when people move from acute care setting (hospital) to long term care settings or back home.

 

What does staph or MRSA look like?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamminjg/342856728                 http://www.foogle.biz/mrsa

 

Staph bacteria including MRSA, can cause skin infection that may looke like a pimple or boil.  It is often red, swollen and painful with pus or other drainage.  It can also cause more serious infections like pneumonia, blood stream infections (sepsis) or surgical wound infections.     Cont. on page 6

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