What Everyone Needs to Know About MRSA - the Super Bug

I was watching the Dr. Phil Show the other day and he had two doctors on the show talking about MRSA and the risk it can cause if not caught in time. After watching the show I knew I had to write an article about MRSA to educate everyone on what it is and what to look for.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and is commonly referred to as a staff infection. Its also commonly know as the Super Bug. The reason for it being called the Super Bug is because this strain of bacteria is resistant to common antibiotics that include methicillin, oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillia.

This bacteria is acquired from hospitals 85% of the time, with the remaining 15% being acquired through the community. MRSA is commonly found in locker rooms of schools, gyms, sports centers and other areas where large groups of people come in contact with one another. MRSA infections are common with people with weak immune systems and in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care centers.

MRSA can remain on objects such as walls, table tops, showers for as long has 10 days. This is why it is very important for locker rooms, showers, tables and anything thing else in the area to be completely wipe down with disinfectants to kill the bacteria.

The symptoms of MSRA will vary depending on what area of your body becomes infected. It usually shows up on the skin as a pimple or boils. MRSA can also enter the blood stream through a cut or a fresh surgical incision. This is why it's very important to wash any cuts or skin abrasions with a mild antibacterial soap and then rinse it with hydrogen peroxide to flush out any remaining bacteria.

Most MRSA is not serious but some can be life threatening especially if they enter the bloodstream and travel to the lungs, heart, or another vital organ.

MRSA can be acquired from another person who has it on their skin or from objects you touch that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried by 1% of the population even though they are not infected with the bacteria.

MRSA is treatable with antibiotics but the bacteria are developing into new strains that are making it difficult to treat. Researchers are working constantly to develop new forms of antibiotics to treat these new MRSA strains that keep developing. However researchers are having a difficult time keeping up because the new MRSA strains are developing quicker than the discovery of new antibiotics.

If you would like more information on MRSA then just click HERE and you will be directed to the Dr. Phil website.