What is MRSA Infection?

MRSA is short for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. This is a strain of staph bacteria that has developed resistance against antibiotics that are commonly used for treating general staph infections. Staph Infection is short for staphylococcal infection, and is caused by Staphylococcus, a genus of Gram-positive bacteria, which covers thirty two species and eight sub-species under its purview.

These bacteria are mostly harmless and are normally found on skin and mucous membranes of other organisms. They form a very small component of the microbial flora of soil and are found worldwide. However, these bacteria may cause diseases in humans and other creatures by penetrating or producing toxins. So, what is a Staph infection? Staphylococcus is the commonest cause of food poisoning, as it can easily grow in inappropriately stored food. The bacteria, Staphylococcus Aureus, is responsible for the following types of infections:-

• Localized Skin Infections: Skin infections like style and other kinds of small, topical abscesses in sebaceous and sweat glands, boils around foreign particles and carbuncles with presence of bacteria in the blood (Bacteremia) may be caused by the Staphylococcus Aureus.
• Diffuse Skin Infections: Contagious skin infections like Impetigo are also caused by this micro organism.
• Deep Localized Infections: Staphylococcus Aureus infection can go as deep as the bone and can even attack the bone marrow. It can also attack the joints and cause septic Arthritis.
• Toxinoses: The toxins produced by this bacteria is alone sufficient to cause infections such as Toxic Shock Syndrome, Gastroenteritis and Scalded Skin Syndrome.
• Other Infections: Staph Infection can cause inflammation to the inner layer of the heart, causing Acute Infective Endocarditis. It can also trigger Septicemia and may be responsible for Necrotizing Pneumonia in which the cellular tissues of the lungs die.

What is MRSA and How does It Infect You?

MRSA is that strain of Staphylococcus Aureus which has developed immunity towards antibiotics, especially, Methicillin. This is the pioneer and most dire among all MRSA facts. The infections caused by this strain of Staphylococcus Aureus are unresponsive to Methicillin treatment.

Causes
Common causes include skin-to-skin contact with infected persons and invasive medical procedures such as surgery, intravenous tubing, artificial joints, etc. where infected devices may come into contact with internal organs or commonly occurring bacteria may get an opportunity to come in contact with internal tissues. It has been observed that a person with a weak immune system is most likely to
get infected with MRSA. Some people may carry MRSA asymptomatically for years, without getting affected! The infection starts when the bacteria enters the body through a cut, sore, breathing tube, feeding tube or catheter. Mostly affected by it are patients admitted in hospitals, nursing homes and long term health care facilities. However, the infection can also occur in healthy individuals who use shared facilities and equipment, like athletes, military personnel, children at daycare facilities, etc. A word for the funk-a-licious - tattooing may cause MRSA infection (unless you make sure the needles are changed after every sitting)!

Symptoms
The common indications are the appearance of red, inflamed and painful area on the skin, which may be followed by secretion of pus and other fluids from this area. The infected site and the area around it may feel warmer than the rest of the body and skin abscesses may appear around it. Fever may follow, indicating an advanced stage of bacterial invasion. Symptoms of a more serious infection may include chest pains, fever accompanied by cough and chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain and shortness of breath. To know more about Staph infection symptoms and, more generally, about bacterial infection symptoms, follow the links.

Diagnosis
Diagnosing MRSA infection may include blood tests, testing the secretion of the infected area, urine, sputum and skin culture of the infected area. These tests are conducted to ascertain the specific bacteria causing the infection.

Treatment
For topical skin infection, draining the skin sore at the doctor's clinic may be sufficient. For more serious infection, certain antibiotics like Clindamycin, Doxycyclin, Tetracycline and Linezolid may still work. It is absolutely mandatory that one consumes all doses of medication prescribed to him. Not finishing the full antibiotic course may make the bacteria further resistant to the drug or may cause the infection to relapse. For highly serious infection, where the bacteria has entered the body beyond the skin, treatment may extend to administering fluids and medications through a vein, performing kidney dialysis and may even involve supplying oxygen artificially (in case of respiratory infection).

Whether and how a person responds to treatment depends upon the severity of the infection as well as the strength (or weakness) of the person's immune system. To conclude, I would like to add that this infection may start as being very slight, but that should not encourage it to be taken lightly. Statistics have associated MRSA induced pneumonia and blood infection to high death rates too many times to afford negligence! Take care of that bruise and keep your surroundings clean. Eat nourishing food to give your immune system a boost. After all, you belong to the smartest species on earth; would you let those tinier-than-tiny bacteria outsmart you? I say, NEVER!