MRSA: Another Medical Scare?

This week, reports of a dangerous, antibiotic resistant staph infection warned of an epidemic in the making. Infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphyloccocus Aureus, or MRSA, are on the rise in hospitals across the United States. After the hysteria over "epidemics" like the bird flu and SARS, many Americans are wondering if this is yet another media hyped scare. Or, is it the real thing?

Staph has been infecting people for centuries. First discovered by a surgeon in 1880, staph is known to target those with weak immune systems. When penicillin was developed decades later, it was used successfully in killing the staph bacteria. Penicillin was synthesized in the 1950's, producing a group of antibiotics that seemed to be able to kill almost any bacteria. The new antibiotics were a major breakthrough in modern medicine. They were also the creator of a strain of staph that was resistant to any penicillin-derived antibiotic. That was MRSA. This new strain also attacked those with weakened immune systems: post-op patients, nursing home residents, hospices, etc. It was found that other, stronger antibiotics killed the disease, but oftentimes the already ill patient would not survive the treatment.

The first major MRSA outbreak was in Boston Hospital in 1968. Years later, a new form of MRSA would arise, this time in perfectly healthy individuals who hadn't been in a hospital setting. This strain Community Associated MRSA or, CA-MRSA, first appeared in the early nineties. According to the CDC's MRSA information page, the bacteria can be contracted through "close skin-to-skin contact, cuts and abrasions, contaminated objects, crowded living spaces and poor hygiene". CA-MRSA can be carried or "colonized" by a healthy person without that individual becoming sick. However, the disease can still be passed from the colonizing individual to another.

CA-MRSA is the strain of staph infections that the media and medical community is warning against. The CDC has found a 12% increase in the CA-MRSA infections throughout the country. There have been instances of clusters or outbreaks that have elevated the numbers, but there is yet to be a decline in the number of reported instances. It is feared that, as the infection spreads, it will develop into a strain that is resistant to every antibiotic in the medical arsenal. That is the reason for the repeated safety messages, advocating frequent hand washing. Alcohol based sanitizers are also found to kill the colonized bacteria on a healthy patient. The medical profession has also taken steps to prevent infection with sanitation programs of their own.

The CA-MRSA headlines are serious, but they are also preventable. With simple frequent hand-washing, the bacteria can be stopped in its tracks. Even if contracted, the bacteria can be treated successfully if found early. This outbreak is not like the SARS or the bird flu bugs of recent years. CA-MRSA is something that anyone can contract; however, it is also something that anyone can prevent-as simply as washing their hands..