MRSA

[Cross127]

Ok as you guys probably know there recently has been a type of staph break out in the United States known as MRSA. Now there has been increased cases of the bacterial infection lately and everyone has been worried on getting. While it is really nothing to stress over people should now take into account of increasing personal higene to keep the bacteria at bay. I am worried my self as I have never had a disease before and I am afraid of getting the serious CA-MRSA which is the deadly form I believe. Now I am going to go the doctors this week to get a biopsy and a general checkup on my blood and health to see if I am at a serious risk of getting an infection and if I can fight it. I have never been on an antibiotic before so I am pretty sure I can fight it pretty easily as I am not immune to any antibiotics. I recommend everyone do things to help stop this infection as it can get pretty nasty. In my school there already has been some cases as well as other towns around me. If you know people with the disease or notice any infections with you or others please notify the person or tell a doctor. I am just trying to spread awarness that is not media generated so no exagerations lol. If any one has input on any ways to fight, prevent, and help cure this infectious bacteria please say something so people know what's up and how to get help. Now If you see any red bumps or irritaions that look like a pimple, burn, boil or a layer of skin looks like it has peeled off be aware that you may have it and you should take action of it very soon as it is a progressive infection. The bacteria is able to double it's colony in 48 hours which means it could get bad quickly if you have a worse case. Most young kids and sub-adults can fight it but older adults or babies are more at risk of getting serious cases especially if you have abused antibiotics. CA-MRSA I believe is resistant to many anitbiotics so only more powerful ones can be used. Some cases the sore has to be drained of fluid to help cure it. Again any doctors or nurses or just any general info from you guys would be very beneficial to anyone on the site who may think they have it. I am just raising awareness for the MFK family to be healthy and strong

 

[RalphP]

HI
I have had it.My work brings me to some really nasty places.It started out on the back of my left hand.Then above my wrist.I would up goint to an infectious disease Dr.I had to get the dead skin removed on a regular basis for a couple of weeks.That hurt like hell.I was on various antibiotics till they found a combo that started to work.I was on them for 4 months.I never knew where I got it from.I now wear latex gloves and I use purrell after every job.

 

[toehead11183]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's immune to some commonly used antibiotics.
The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils.
Though most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening.
MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.
Infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world. In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes up to 40%-50% of staph infections.
But MRSA is also showing up in healthy people who have not been living in the hospital. This type of MRSA is called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA. The CDC reports that in 2003, 12% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA.
Studies have shown that rates of CA-MRSA infection are growing fast. One study of children in south Texas found that cases of CA-MRSA had a 14-fold increase between 1999 and 2001.
CA-MRSA skin infections have been identified among certain populations that share close quarters or experience more skin-to-skin contact. Examples are team athletes, military recruits, and prisoners. However, more and more CA-MRSA infections are being seen in the general community as well, especially in certain geographic regions.


P.S. you dont get ammunity to antibiotics. if you did, you'd be dead. best way to fight the spread is hand washing. i had it about 3 months ago, the shot in the butt was worse than the MRSA. only babies, elderly and the very sick die from it.

 

[drgnfly829]

ditto enterrococcus (resistant gi)
and others.
was always an issue, health care workers should be using universal precautions anyway
It's not necessarily more virulent (ie likely to cause severe disease)
just can't simply knock it out with one simple course of antibiotic
usually staph causes wound infections, abcesses, boils etc some types are normal skin bacteria
It's now an issue because it's in the general community rather than nursing homes/hospitals
very hard to get rid of even if your a carrier, so it's waiting to jump into a cut what have you,
now dogs get and carry it
You are correct in that it is much more common in the general population now
not all of whom take such precautions
Some of whom get angry when you try to tell them nicely (ok nicely for me) not to show you their wound keep it covered wash their hands etc

most boils or abcesses need to be lanced or hot compressed as antibiotics often don't penetrate the capsule formed by the body, or get to the pocket of infection

so best to see an Md and not attempt to self treat but kkeep up with aftercare and followups

 

[Cross127]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's immune to some commonly used antibiotics.
The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils.
Though most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening.
MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected.
Infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world. In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes up to 40%-50% of staph infections.
But MRSA is also showing up in healthy people who have not been living in the hospital. This type of MRSA is called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA. The CDC reports that in 2003, 12% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA.
Studies have shown that rates of CA-MRSA infection are growing fast. One study of children in south Texas found that cases of CA-MRSA had a 14-fold increase between 1999 and 2001.
CA-MRSA skin infections have been identified among certain populations that share close quarters or experience more skin-to-skin contact. Examples are team athletes, military recruits, and prisoners. However, more and more CA-MRSA infections are being seen in the general community as well, especially in certain geographic regions.


P.S. you dont get ammunity to antibiotics. if you did, you'd be dead. best way to fight the spread is hand washing. i had it about 3 months ago, the shot in the butt was worse than the MRSA. only babies, elderly and the very sick die from it.

Ok thank you very much for the explaination of MRSA. Yeah my grampa has a feeding tube and I am usually there taking care of him feeding and what not so I am going to get a biopsy done and see if I am infected and going to get a perscription to get rid of it. My mom also has staph and is treated for it so most likely I will have it. Which sucks but hey it's life just go with it. I think though my entire family has it because we all go near my grampa's feeding tube and I think my gramma said that he had MRSA or had the cluster of bacteria around his feeding tube. Is it painful? Is the treatment painful or any bad symptoms that may cause pain or discomfort while being treated or not? How long does it take to go away when being treated with the right antibiotic? Sorry for all the questions but since you guys have first hand experience I would like to know what might be going on with me. I have only had one questionable sore looking thing and it is going away but I am still worried so I am going to go to the doctor.