MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
Across the nation concerns are being raised about MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). In Whatcom County local physicians are also being asked many questions about diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this infection.
General Information:
Skin infections can start when bacteria (such as staphylococcus or streptococcus) get into a cut or scrape. Different types of staphylococcus (staph) bacteria are commonly found on our skin and in our nasal passages. MRSA is a type of staph infection that is resistant to a major class of antibiotics (which includes methicillin) and so may require a special treatment in order to be healed. Not all MRSA infections require antibiotics to treat. When antibiotics are required, some strains of MRSA can be treated with common oral antibiotics other than the methicillin-type group, while others require intravenous antibiotics.
MRSA is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or by sharing a personal object like a towel, clothing, or bedding that an infected person has used. A MRSA infection can look like a bug bite at first and then grow into a boil. Although MRSA often causes relatively minor skin infections, sometimes these infections are severe and involve the heart, lungs, blood or bones.
Regular hand washing and not sharing personal items helps to stop the spread of MRSA. Washing your hands often with soap and warm water or using an antiseptic gel on clean hands can help prevent infections.
What You Should Do:
- Wash cuts, scrapes and sores with soap and water. Cover them with bandages on all four sides so drainage cannot escape and bacteria cannot get in.
- Avoid contact with other people's cuts or sores and the materials that came into contact with the injury or infection.
- Avoid sharing personal items, such as soap, towels and razors.
- Clean and wash sports clothing and equipment after each use. Shower or bathe after sports activities especially if there is physical contact with others during the activity.
- If you have signs of infection, such as pain, redness, swelling and heat and oozing pus or blood, call your doctor.
National experts in infection control have put together many excellent resources, including an audio tape on what the infection is and how families can protect themselves. Please refer to the following web sites for additional information on MRSA.
Information for Families*
"What You Can Do to Protect Yourself & Your Family" CDC podcast and transcript:
www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=6936#transcript
DOH "Living with MRSA" pamplet and other links:
www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/Antibiotics/MRSA.htm
Information for Schools*
TPCHD MRSA Toolkit for Middle & High Schools:
www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=363
TPCHD MRSA Toolkit for School Custodians:
www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=386
TPCHD MRSA Toolkit for Elementary Schools:
www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=399
CDC Questions and Answers about Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Schools:
www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools
Information for Childcare Providers*
TPCHD MRSA Toolkit for Childcare Center: www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=344
Information for Healthcare Providers*
TPCHD MRSA Toolkit for Outpatient Clinics/Offices
www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=336
TPCHD Community Acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA):
www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=131
DOH Skin Infections and MRSA (includes link to "Living with MRSA"):
www.doh.wa.gov/Topics/Antibiotics/MRSA.htm
CDC Community-acquired MRSA guidelines:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html
CDC Healthcare-acquired MRSA guidelines:
www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html
*Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); Washington State Department of Health (DOH); and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD) |
