MRSA Rash

MRSA rash stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA is a type of bacteria, which causes difficult skin infections. This bacteria belongs to the family of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which cause staph infections (MRSA). This type of infection is resistant to methicillin, which is antibiotic normally used to treat staphylococcal infections. This type of infection is also resistant to antibiotics like oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. MRSA infections as also termed as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA), hospital-acquired or health-care-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and epidemic MRSA (EMRSA). Incorrectly, the term MRSA is used as MRSA virus. However, MRSA is bacteria and not a virus.

What Does MRSA Rash Look Like?
Initially it looks like a small red boil or a pimple. Slowly, the boils gets inflamed and open up. They begin to weep with pus or white fluid. Finally, as the infection begins to spread, it starts looking like a red patch with an outline of skin.

MRSA Rash Symptoms
MRSA can lead to may skin conditions. The following are some of the commonly seen symptoms.

• Cellulitis, which is an infection of the immediate layer of the skin, fat or tissues.
• Boils, which are bumps filled with pus in the hair follicles.
• Abscess, which are gathering of pus under the skin.
• Sty, which is an infection of the eyelid.
• Carbuncles, which is an infection which is bigger in size than abscess.
• Impetigo, is an infection which leads to blisters and pus.

The worst part about MRSA infections is that they can spread easily and can occur in any part of the body. It can infect the internal organs too. Some of the common symptoms are fever, chills, rash on most part of the body, low blood pressure, joint pains, severe headaches and shortness of breath. If the rash is left untreated, it can prove to be fatal too. CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA infections can lead to endocarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, osteomyelitis, sepsis resulting in death.

MRSA Rash Treatment
Often people think that it is resistant to Methicillin and other drugs too, then what helps in treating the condition. Drugs like vancomycin [Vancocin] and linezolid [Zyvox] are used in treating this condition. Mupirocin antibiotic cream can also help in reducing the condition by preventing mucous membrane colonization. So far, mupirocin antibiotic, found to be the most effective topical application for MRSA rashes. To get treated entirely, it is important that people suffering from MRSA, take the entire course of the medication and not leave it half way.

Risk Factors
Usually healthy people do not get such infections. A wound is usually an entry point for MRSA bacteria. Hence, people in the hospitals are more prone to it. Unhealthy lifestyle and living in poor hygienic conditions can also lead you to, acquiring this condition.

Prevention is always better than cure. To prevent such conditions, is best that you avoid, close skin-to-skin contact, in public places. Openings in the skin, due to cuts and abrasions should be treated as soon as possible, before they turn septic. Keep your toilet seat clean and inculcate this habit amongst your family members too. If you are residing in crowded living conditions, see to it that you keep your surroundings clean and do everything to boost your immune system. Wash your hands every time you come home, which an anti-septic soap or a hand sanitizer. Keep your personal items, such as razors, towels, soaps, clothing, athletic equipment and sheets, personal. Take a shower at least twice a day, with soap and warm water, to wash away all the dirt, grime and germs.

MRSA rash can be quite life-threading, if it's left untreated. Thus, get yourself tested, if you think you have such an infection. Take care!