Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus - Symptoms of MRSA Infection

Methicillin – Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA):
Methicillin – Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus also known as MRSA is a bacterium that causes hard to treat infection in various parts of the body. MRSA is considered to be one of the toughest bacteria strain to kill and treat its infection because of the bacterium which has developed resistance to most of the antibiotics used in such type of infections.

Symptoms of MRSA:
As the MRSA infection can occur to any part of the body, the symptoms of the infection can vary depending on the part that is infected. Pimples, boils or abscess erupt on the skin if the infection has occurred near the skin surface. In case of the deeper infection, complexity increases many folds where the bacterium may infect age old wounds (such as old injury or surgical wounds etc.), lungs, blood vessels, and also urinary system etc. The infected part of the body becomes reddish and swollen containing pus accompanied with pain that gives needle pricking sensation. The infection if treated in its earlier stage, can be controlled very easily but it also can become serious and deadlier/life threatening if the treatment is delayed or if the infection is routed deeper, it also may facilitate other type of infections or medical complications. In some cases if the lungs are infected with MRSA, in such conditions the patient may develop pneumonia with fever and chills and he/she may also experience shortness of breathe.

Causes of MRSA infection:
We carry numerous bacteria of various types on and in our body (for example: nose, on the skin specially hands, on the skin surrounding genital organs etc.), some of them are useful for our body; some are harmful and rest neutral. Staphylococcus bacterium is commonly found on our body and it does not harm us until it finds an entry inside our body through any laceration, wound or any other type of opening on our skin. Once the bacterium finds its way inside our body, it can infect any internal body part and create problem for us.

Who is at risk of getting infected by MRSA?
As mentioned already, almost 20-25% of humans carry this bacterium on their body and stand strong chance of getting infected by it through some laceration, wound or any such skin related problem.
The other most common way through which the bacterium gets transmitted is through contact. If a healthy person comes in a physical contact with an infected person, there are strong chances of him/her getting infected with MRSA.
A person also may get infected with MRSA if he/she touches anything that has bacteria on its surface.
We already know that almost 20% to 25% of people carry Staphylococcus bacteria on their body, but not all of them get infected, unless there is an open passage for the bacteria to enter their body. Along with it, people who have weakened or damaged immune system are prone to this type of infections, which may create a huge problem for such people.
MRSA infection is also counted among the infections that a person can acquire in hospitals. Therefore, people who are admitted to hospitals are prone to this type of infections if there is no enough hygiene maintained in hospital.

Treatments available for MRSA:
Once diagnosed with MRSA infection, your doctor may chose treatment based on your health and medical history. Even though the MRSA strain of the Staphylococcus bacteria has developed resistance to most of the antibiotics, there are still many other antibiotics which are effective on this bacterium. Your doctor may chose a course based on various observations such as, your body response to antibiotics, need of other supplementary medicines etc. Your doctor may also chose to avoid use of antibiotics and use other options such as incision of the boil/abscess/pimple in order to remove as much of infected fluid from your body as possible.
The only precaution you are required to take is to complete the course of medicine you have been prescribed by your doctor. As already mentioned, this strain of the bacterium staphylococcus has become resistant to most of the antibiotics because of the fact that people do not complete the medicine course, which helps some of the bacteria which survive antibiotics to learn how to resist them and the bacteria will fight back the next time you will take the medicine.

What are the precautions against MRSA?
As the infection of this bacterium occurs through the openings in the skin, you should be careful about your wounds, cuts etc. You should be careful enough to cover the cuts/wounds with proper medicated bandage. Maintaining necessary hygiene and do not touch any and everything that may have bacteria on its surface. Similarly avoid touching other people’s wounds or cuts on their skin.
Places are like hospitals should be carefully maintained and use of hygienic objects should be made compulsory in such places. Along with it, people should be careful about possible infections.
As already mentioned, if you are diagnosed for the MRSA infection, you should be careful not to come in physical contact with any healthy person as it might infect him/her. It’s also important that you should complete the medical course prescribed so that the bacteria is removed completely from your body.
Wash hands clean with soap or sanitizer every time you touch something that is not hygienic or may have bacteria on its surface.
And last but not the least: maintain hygiene in your surrounding place.