The biggest problem with MRSA is that it’s a so-called “superbug,” a bacterial infection that’s resistant to standard antibiotics. When acquired, it’s tough to get rid of, and if left untreated, can lead to life-threatening complications as it spreads to organs, joints or the bloodstream.
For people with already-weakened immune systems, MRSA can be a disaster. Because it’s a germ, it can be found anywhere and usually spreads once let loose in an enclosed facility. It’s spread with skin to skin contact.
Among the most popular locations for a MRSA outbreak:
1. Prisons: Close, confined quarters and a lack of daily showers can lead to problems for those incarcerated and their guards.
2. Schools: Children, teachers and staff constantly interact in close quarters, making for easily transmitted infections.
3. Airports: International travel and confined quarters make transmission a worldwide issue.
4. Hospitals: Although these facilities try to pay strict attention to sterilization and sanitation, the constantly changing environment and opportunity for infections to escape make them prime locations for MRSA outbreaks
5. Gyms: Hot, sweaty people sharing equipment and showers makes MRSA feel right at home at these public facilities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that two in 100 people carry the MRSA staph germ. About 33 percent of people carry staph in their noses but don’t become ill. There are no totals on how many people get the disease in the United States.
The good news is that the CDC reports MRSA infections in healthcare facilities are decreasing. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that life-threatening MRSA infections (so-called “invasive” situations) are waning. The report indicates that hospital-contracted MRSA infections were down 54 percent from 2005 to 2011, a drop of more than 30,000 infections from previous years. That meant approximately 9,000 fewer deaths from MRSA-related infections than before. That correlates with an earlier study from the National Healthcare Safety Network that discovered MRSA bloodstream infections at hospitals dropped by half in the decade from 1997 to 2007.
No doubt these situations reflect an increasing awareness of the possibility of MRSA and quick action on the part of hospitals to quarantine suspected cases to prevent further outbreaks.
The immune-compromised are at particular risk for MRSA infection, which is why healthcare facilities were on the front lines of early infections. Many of the first MRSA patients were in long-term healthcare facilities like nursing homes or were hospitalized frequently, on kidney dialysis, in the middle of cancer treatments or had recently received surgery. It was also found that intravenous drug users were among the largest subset of people who were prone to MRSA infections.
All of the above were in weakened conditions, making easy targets for the opportunistic infection. But seemingly healthy people also come down with MRSA, even those who have not recently been near a hospital. These fall into the category of people who have been in large public spaces that require close quarters. Thus, athletes or gym members sharing facilities, members of the military, and school children are particularly susceptible. Add in those who have gotten tattoos, and you have myriad infection possibilities.
MRSA Symptoms
Because germs abound on our bodies, there are specifics signs that something you may have on your skin may develop into MRSA. That can include swollen, painful or red areas on the skin, boil-like infections filled with fluid or oozing pus, or open wounds. Most people are smart enough not to go about their daily lives when such insults to the body are present, but inevitably, the few who do can spread it. This is particularly true with towels or other shared objects that are touched or rubbed on skin, including razors. MRSA loves hairy areas of the body because hair follicles offer an easy entry path into the rest of the body.
Once inside and active, MRSA infection can cause coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, general fatigue or malaise, headache, and rash. It also makes it difficult for wounds or other skin punctures to heal.
Your Doctor Will Test
Medical testing is the only way to prove that you have a MRSA infection. A sample will be collected from your wound or rash, and in some cases, medical professionals will take blood or urine samples. These are then analyzed in a lab to determine whether it’s a normal staph infection or MRSA. If you are found to have MRSA, don’t panic. Doctors often drain the infection if it isn’t out of control, then keep it covered with a bandage and allow your immune system to heal it. The process may be slow, but it eventually will heal normally.
Severe cases require stricter intervention. Although MRSA is resistant to regular antibiotics, there are stronger medications that can be used to fight deeper infections in the lungs or blood. These are usually long-lasting treatments that may continue for some time to make sure MRSA is eradicated. During the treatment, you will be advised to avoid large public contact and to keep any wounds well-covered.
If you’re a reasonably healthy adult, a MRSA infection can be conquered with treatment. Most deaths that occur from the germ happen to the immune compromised and those whose infections rage in sensitive areas like the lungs or bloodstream, where serious complications like pneumonia can occur. If you suspect you have an infection that’s not healing normally, it’s best to visit a doctor so that treatment can catch any major problems in the early stages.
If you keep your body clean, particularly by washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with hot water and soap, keeping wounds bandages until healed, and avoiding contact with other people’s personal items that may have touched an open wound, you’ll be better able to avoid MRSA.