Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a certain type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to almost all of the antibiotics that help to treat the ordinary staph infections.1 25 to 30% of the population has staph, and about 2% of that is colonized with MRSA.2
There are two types of MRSA infections that can occur. One is known as the health care-associated MRSA or HA-MRSA.1 This infection occurs most often in people who have been in hospitals or other health care settings, like nursing homes or dialysis centers. This type of infection is mostly associated with invasive procedures or devices (surgeries), intravenous tubing, or artificial joints. The other type is called community-associated MRSA or CA-MRSA which occurs mostly among healthy people.1 Groups that are at-risk of this type of infection are high school wrestlers, child care workers, and people who live in crowded conditions.
The symptoms of MRSA start off as swollen, painful red bumps that look like either pimples or spider bites.2 Usually the affected area is
- Warm to the touch
- Full of pus and/or drainage
- Accompanied by a fever
If the infection is not treated within a certain amount of time, it can turn very quickly into a deep, painful abscess that will require surgical draining. There are times where the bacteria stays contained inside the skin, but they can also burrow deep into the body, causing life-threatening infections in the bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.2
They need to pay attention to the minor skin problems (insect bites, cuts and scrapes) especially in children. A person needs to see the doctor if the infection is accompanied by a fever.2
In my next blog I will discuss the different risk factors of each type of MRSA and the complications that can occur.
References
1MRSA infection. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/basics/symptoms/con-20024479
2MRSA Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)? (Continued) - MedicineNet. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.medicinenet.com/mrsa_infection/page3.htm
Great read, I did not realize MRSA could have such bad effects on someone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Dillon, I didn't realize how dangerous MRSA can be. Especially if it is infected and does not get treated. Kids and athletes usually just push through it or do not even realize some of the symptoms.
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