News About MRSA: “Superbugs”
For those interested in learning more about the "Superbugs" covered recently in the news, the following information may be beneficial for you. Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to as "staph," is an organism found commonly on the skin of healthy individuals. It is responsible for many skin infections and is treated with antibiotics. Some types of staph infections are resistant to antibiotics. MRSA, or methcillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is one such organism. MRSA is the "Superbug" referred to in recent media coverage.
The majority of MRSA infections are acquired through health-care facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes. However, approximately 12% of MRSA infections are found in individuals who have not recently been treated in health-care facilities and these infections are termed community-acquired MRSA, or CA-MRSA. In the community, MRSA is most often transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact, contact with openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions and poor hygiene. The bacteria can live on inanimate objects for days or weeks and can be transmitted if someone touches it.
How can you know if you have MRSA? The only way to know for sure is to visit a health-care provider. Pimples or boils that are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage should be evaluated by a health-care provider. Treatment of MRSA includes specific antibiotics and/or wound drainage by a health-care provider.
MRSA can be prevented by practicing good hygiene:
- Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.