MRSA

 What is MRSA?

MRSA, or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Superbug is a disease you've probably heard before, but never really knew what it is. MRSA is a staph(staphylococcaceae) bacterium superbug. Superbugs is an informal name for antibiotic resistant bacteria, and some examples of superbugs are MRSA or Drug-Resistant TB from the last blog post. Resistance is usually formed during evolution by the overuse of antibiotics. Because of its drug-resistance, MRSA is much harder to treat than other staph. A study shows that of 273 patients admitted for USA300 strain MRSA, 66 patients (24%) passed away. Out of the patients, 17.7% of the deaths occured within 30 days. In 2017 alone, it ended over 20000 lives and caused over 120000 bloodstream infections. 

What is Staph?

Staph, or staphylococcaceae is not to be confused with strep (streptococcus), which is a mouth or throat infection while staph is a skin infection. There are more than 30 types of staph, with MRSA being one of them.  

How do you catch MRSA?

MRSA usually spreads by skin-to-skin contact. This can be direct or indirect. If someone infected touches someone else, they can infect the other person with it, which is quite obvious, but another way it can transmit is by touching contaminated items. For instance, if someone infected uses gym equipment, and you use it, you have a chance to be infected.

Symptoms:

• Red swollen pusful bump/lumps (usually painful and warm to the touch)
• Fever
• Chills
• Cough
• Chest Pain
• Aches
• Organ Problems (Lungs, Joints, Heart, Bones...)

Consequences and if left untreated:

• Sepsis
• Impaired Lymphatic Functions
• Death

Risks:

• Hospitals (HA-MRSA Healthcare associated-MRSA)
• Hospitals-infections take up a great amount of MRSA cases
• Invasive devices put into you making wounds
• Community (CA-MRSA Community associated-MRSA)
• Exposed wounds
• Intravenous drugs 
• Unsanitary

Prevention:

• Hand washing
• Cover and clean wounds
• Don't use other people's personal items especially for skin
• Shower and clean
• Don't inject intravenous drugs unless medically necessary