Knowledge is power when it comes to MRSA.

The “Superbug.” Drug-resistant infection. Staph. These are all names for a common infection known as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 94,000 people developed an MRSA infection in 1995; 14,000 of these were contracted in the community.

What is MRSA?
MRSA is a type of staph that is resistant to certain antibiotics, including methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. A MRSA infection is produced by bacteria and can develop in the urine, blood, sputum or as a skin infection. MRSA can be acquired either in a hospital setting due to antibiotic use or in the community.

Who can develop a staph or MRSA infection?
Anyone can develop a staph infection. Those at higher risk for developing an infection, however, include people who have:

• Skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a staph infection
• Contact with items and surfaces that have staph on them
• Openings in their skin, such as cuts or scrapes
• Crowded living conditions
• Poor hygiene

How serious are MRSA infections?
The vast majority of staph or MRSA skin infections are minor and easily treated by using antibiotics or possibly draining the infected wound. Staph also may cause more serious infections, such as infections in the bloodstream, surgical sites, or pneumonia. Sometimes, a staph infection that starts as a skin infection may worsen. It is important to contact your doctor if your infection does not get better.

How are MRSA infections treated?
MRSA infections may be treated with antibiotics or having a physician drain the infection. If you are given an antibiotic, it is very important that you take all of the doses even if the infection is getting better (unless your physician tells you to stop taking it). The infection may be better, but the bacteria that caused the infection are still in your system. Without taking all of the antibiotic, you will not fully rid your body of the bacteria that caused the MRSA or staph infection.

Is it true that MRSA is resistant “drug-resistant?”
The over-use and misuse of antibiotics have caused some bacteria, like MRSA, to become immune from certain common antibiotics. The bacteria have developed a resistance to common antibiotics and are stronger and more difficult to kill.

One reason we are now seeing antibiotic-resistant infections is our society’s tendency to treat any ailment with an antibiotic. In reality, antibiotics are only effective against bacteria; they do not work when the illness or infection is caused by a virus.

This means, for example, that because strep throat or a sinus infection or some types of pneumonia are caused by bacteria, antibiotics are an appropriate treatment and usually cure the infection or illness. Colds, the flu and most coughs, however, are caused by viruses, which means antibiotics do nothing to help in curing the illness. With viruses, antibiotics will not cure an infection, will not make you feel better, and will not protect you from spreading the virus to others.

How can I protect myself and my family from MRSA?
The best defense against MRSA is prevention – preventing its spread as well as the infection itself. MRSA is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact or contact with items/surfaces that have been in contact with someone else’s infection. If you have an MRSA infection, it is important to keep your wound covered, wash your hands frequently and not share personal items, such as a towel, in order to keep the infection from spreading to others.

These tips will help you prevent the development of an MRSA infection:

• Practice good hygiene – wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Use soap and water to wash your hands for the length of time it takes you to say the alphabet or sing “Happy Birthday.” If you choose to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, you should apply the product to the palm of one hand and then rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers, until the product is dry.”
• Cover any cuts or abrasions until they’re healed
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as towels or razors
• Keep your environment clean by regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces

Prevention measures at Bloomington Hospital to protect patients
At Bloomington Hospital, staff take a vigilant role in preventing both the development and the spread of MRSA infections among its patients.

We monitor all patients for MRSA, and immediately place those patients with a positive culture for MRSA in isolation. In addition, we have strict hand-washing guidelines for all staff, which helps stop the spread of infections like MRSA as well as other common diseases.

Where can I learn more?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a robust Web site with information about MRSA. To visit the CDC’s site, click here (link to http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html)