How Long is MRSA Contagious

MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is a bacterium which is responsible for MRSA infection which, if not taken care, can be life-threatening. These bacteria are found in about 20 to 30% of the population but remain in a dormant state. They are found in the nose, mouth, skin, anus, genital parts, etc. They become active in a particular group of people who have low immune power. The infection can start with a small boil but in worst cases it enters the blood vessels, bone, etc., and become very dangerous. Now you must be thinking is MRSA contagious? Yes, it is contagious and can be spread by individuals. To know how long is MRSA contagious, one should know about the seriousness of the disease and their own medical background.

Symptoms of MRSA
Staphylococcus bacteria is found in those people who have low immune power. This category may include skin injuries, newborn infants, breastfeeding women, surgical incisions, intravenous catheters, etc. People suffering from diabetes, lung disease, vascular disease or cancer are also prone to get this infection. MRSA may have symptoms like skin blisters, pain in the infected area, redness, swelling, fever, formation of pus, boils, abscess, etc.

How MRSA Spreads
MRSA or staph infection is a contagious infection which can spread from one person to another. Even after the treatment of MRSA, the person remains the carrier of this bacteria. When this bacteria gets favorable environment, it grows and infects again. Hence, it is always advisable that people who suffer or had suffered in the past with MRSA should maintain distance from the people who are more likely to get this infection. If you are wondering is staph infection contagious, following points will show how MRSA can spread to another person.

• Touching or coming in contact with the person who is suffering from MRSA.
• Coming in contact with the draining or weeping MRSA wound.
• Using the contaminated things of the person suffering from MRSA.

MRSA Treatment
It should be noticed that Staphylococcus aureus is not only resistant to methicillin but there are many other antibiotics like penicillin, oxacillin, etc., which do not work on this bacteria. This makes the treatment difficult. Once you are prescribed with some antibiotic, it is very important to complete the dose, as any break in the medication can make the bacteria resistant and more stronger. So, the doctors advise for the strongest antibiotic available in the market. But how long is MRSA contagious, this will totally depend upon the intensity of the antibiotic and on the immune power of the person. Apart from this, surgeries are conducted for severe wounds in which pus is drained in order to cure the wound. There is a restriction of surgeries in case the patient is diabetic. The best option is to take precautions in order to stay away from the infection.

Precautions Against MRSA
It is better to use precautions against MRSA instead of thinking about the treatment and its ability to spread. Following are some of the precautions to stay away from MRSA.

• Try to keep distance from the person suffering from MRSA and avoid using their things.
• Clean the wounds or injuries properly and apply antibiotic so as to avoid MRSA infection.
• Keep your body and surrounding clean.
• If any wound is taking time to heal then contact the doctor before it becomes worse.
• Drink at least 7-8 glass of water daily to get rid of the bacteria from your body.

So, from the above paragraphs we can conclude that the durations for which MRSA contagious, is difficult to determine, as it can stay in the body for a long period of time or may be till death, but it can be suppressed by taking antibiotics. Many people may have MRSA and it is cured too but it totally depends upon the body's immune power and its ability to react with the antibiotics which decides for how long it will stay in the body.