MRSA - Are You at Risk?
Recently we have been seeing news casts and health warnings regarding M.R.S.A. What is this infection and am I at risk? Is it serious enough to be concerned about? This article will answer these and other questions about M.R.S.A.
M.R.S.A. is a type of staph infection that is resistant to treatment with many standard antibiotics.Like most "super bugs", M.R.S.A.Is the result of of excessive and unnecessary antibiotic use.Even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they still contribute to the increase of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target. Bacteria live on an evolutionary fast track, so germs that survive treatment with one antibiotic soon learn to resist others. And because bacteria mutate much faster than new drugs can be produced, some germs become resistant to just about every available treatment. That's why only a few antibiotic treatments are now effective against most forms of staph. Because of this, the M.R.S.A. bacterial infection can become life threatening.
Staph bacteria is responsible for most skin infections but are also frequently the cause of pneumonia and blood stream infections. These conditions can be quite serious and may become deadly.
Anyone can get a staph infection such as M.R.S.A. Some people, however, are at a higher risk, such as hospital patients,nursing home residents,prison inmates,soldiers and any other people who are kept in close living quarters. Diabetics are at higher risk and people who inject street drugs are often infected with many types of staph bacteria including M.R.S.A. Some athletes are at high risk because they have close skin to skin contact with others. Wrestlers and football players are quite susceptible.
Staph bacteria often enters the body through a minor cut or scrape and can cause a skin infection that looks like a pimple or a boil. Sometimes it is mistaken for a spider bite. The infected area may be red, swollen and painful. It also may contain pus or other drainage. If left untreated, any type of staph can cause widespread infection in your body.
You can reduce your risk of getting M.R.S.A. or any other type of staph infection by practicing good hygiene. Frequent hand washing is the number one prevention measure. Keeping any cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed also reduces your risk.
Most staph infections,including M.R.S.A., are treatable with antibiotics. M.R.S.A. However has only a limited number of antibiotics there are effective against it.
If you suspect you may have a M.R.S.A. or any other type of staph infection contact your doctor and tests will confirm what type of infection you have so you can receive appropriate treatment.Remember, M.R.S.A. can be fatal.
Published by JAMIE MYLES
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3 Comments
Post a CommentThanks for the information!
This infection has been prevatent in British hospitals for some time, many people brought into hospital can find themselves victims of this through poor hand washing practices and contamintion. Good informative article.
Wow, serious stuff. Thanks for the info.