MRSA FAQ

What is MRSA and why should I be concerned?

Studies show that 35-55 % of the population are carriers (or colonized) with Staphylococcus aureus all of the time. Usually Staph bacteria are not harmful. However, when Staph aureus enters the body through a break in the skin a resulting infection occurs. Usually these active infections are treated with antibiotics, often times common antibiotics don't kill the staph bacteria, meaning the bacteria have become resistant to those antibiotics. This type of staph is what we know as MRSA.

MRSA is an acronym for Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, an antibiotic resistant Superbug bacteria that grows in clusters, multiplies very rapidly and can cause a wide array of infection. These ranging from simple skin infections (boils) to septicemia (infection of the bloodstream) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

What caused MRSA?

Basic science can explain the development of MRSA, boiling down to survival of the fittest; the basic principle of evolution. Since bacteria have been around much longer than we have, they have become an extremely smart and adaptive organism.

There are a number of different strains of any single type of bacteria, and each has subtle natural genetic mutations which make it unique from the other. In addition, bacterial genes are constantly mutating. Some strains' natural genetic makeup give them a slight advantage in fighting off antibiotic attack.

As weaker strains encounter antibiotics and die they are leaving the naturally resistant strains behind to evolve and adapt. This means that the next time you come in contact with Staph aureus, it is more likely to be one which has survived an antibiotic encounter, i.e. resistant.

Who can get MRSA?

Those most susceptible to MRSA are children, the elderly and those immune system compromised from diseases such as diabetes, cancer and HIV. MRSA once was a bacteria only found in hospitals and medical centers, recently MRSA has become prevalant in healthy individuals who have contracted it within their communities. MRSA grows very rapidly in warm, moist areas, such as those often seen in athletic facilities and gyms.

What does MRSA look like?

Most often, MRSA causes infections on the skin.
These infections may look like any one of the following:

• Sores that look like spider bites (However MRSA is not caused by a spider bite.)
• Large, red, painful bumps under the skin (called boils)
• A cut that is swollen, hot and filled with pus
• Blisters filled with fluid (called impetigo)

It is also possible to have MRSA in other areas of the body, such as blood, lungs, eyes, and urine. These types of infections are less common, although often more serious.