MRSA Carrier Frequent Questions

FREE REPORT Discover The Top 5 MRSA and Staph Mistakes that waste your time and delay your recovery. Enter your name and email below to get your report and tips now. First Name Email Address    I am committed to protecting your privacy. I will NEVER rent, sell, or misuse your information. PRIVACY POLICY

Staph and MRSA are a growing problem and we are exposed to infectious bacteria on a daily basis. Because MRSA is contagious, it’s easy for the bacteria to get picked up and carried from one person to another. The questions and answers below will help you to understand what a MRSA carrier is and what the risks are.

• What is a MRSA carrier? MRSA carriers have living MRSA bacteria on or inside their bodies. Roughly 30% of people carry Staph bacteria (and a smaller percent carry MRSA) on their skin and/or in their upper respiratory tract (inside the nose area) and don't even know it. They may never get infected and often have no idea they carry it. These people are called "carriers".
  
  A MRSA carrier can spread or transmit the bacteria to others. It's possible for a MRSA carrier to spread MRSA to someone else who then becomes infected. To learn more about Staph and MRSA transmission, click the link.
  


• If I’m a MRSA carrier, will I get an infection? Just because you’re a MRSA carrier does not mean you will ever get an infection. There are many factors that can come into play. Some of these factors include your age, medical conditions, stress, amount of exposure, route of exposure, a history of Staph, MRSA or other infections, certain medications, certain foods, and the strength of your immune system.


• Can a carrier infect someone else? MRSA carriers can spread the bacteria to other people. However, just because you are exposed to or touch a carrier doesn't mean you will get infected or become a carrier yourself. As mentioned above, many other factors come into play besides exposure alone.


• How do you become a MRSA carrier? You can easily pick up MRSA bacteria by being close to infected people, which is most common in hospitals, nursing homes and in other healthcare facilities. MRSA is also commonly transferred from contaminated surfaces and objects. MRSA and Staph can also pass through the air on dust and other particulates.
  
  Infection can start when the bacteria enter into your body through your lungs, nose, mouth, open cuts, wounds and surgical sites. MRSA bacteria can be picked up on your hands by coming into contact with the bacteria. They can also be found in some body fluids (if that person is a carrier or infected), on clothing and laundry (from people who are a carrier or infected), on household surfaces (if someone in your home is a carrier or infected) and from direct contact with an infected person or a carrier. MRSA and Staph can also be transmitted to pets from humans (and back to humans from pets).



Staph growing on a culture plate. Photo: iStockPhoto.com / Linde1

• How do you know if you carry MRSA? The standard test for MRSA is a bacterial culture test (swab test) of the nose. If a person carries MRSA, the nose is one of the most common places to find the bacteria. A positive nose culture test usually means that you are a carrier, and it may also signify you have an infection. However, if your nose culture test is negative, you may still be a MRSA carrier.
  
  MRSA carriers can have the bacteria living in other parts of their bodies and still test negative at their noses. Some doctors believe that the back of the throat is a more accurate place to test for MRSA. The bacteria prefer places that are warm and moist, including armpits and the groin area.


• Will I always be a MRSA carrier? MRSA and Staph can be very difficult to get rid of. These bacteria can create biofilm colonies and L-form “stealth bacteria” to hide and protect themselves inside your body. Many antibiotics do not work against biofilms and L-form bacteria. Thankfully, there are steps to help reduce “stealth” bacteria and get rid of them. Taking maintenance levels of some natural antimicrobial agents can be very helpful. Products that break down biofilm layers in the body can be beneficial and can also help your treatments to work better. Strengthening your immune system is also important.


• Can I totally remove MRSA from my body? I've heard that many people no longer test positive for MRSA bacteria after having been infected. Of course, if you have an active infection, you should address that. And, just because you test positive for MRSA bacteria doesn't guarantee you will become infected.
  
  However, I don't believe that a "total elimination" mind set is always appropriate. It can lead to a paranoia of sorts. And, we may be exposed again to MRSA bacteria in the community or in a healthcare setting.
  
  I think a better goal is to restore balance to the protective bacteria inside your gut and on your skin and restore the health of your immune system. Because of the superbug bacteria present in our lives today, build your body up to be stronger and more resistant to these bacteria. Resisting infection can be much easier if your immune system is strong and your body is in balance.

 

Protecting yourself on multiple fronts

The best way to guard against a Staph or MRSA infection is to use a multi-front approach. While hygiene, proper treatments, cleaning your home and infection control are all important, you must also make your body naturally resistant to infections for best results. If you have an active infection, learn how to use a MRSA or Staph treatment that supports your immune system without tearing it down. If you’ve been infected in the past, then boosting and maintaining your immune system is one of the most effective things you can do.

 

Protect yourself and your family from MRSA & Staph Written by Microbiologist and Staph Researcher Michelle Moore, the guidebook MRSA Secrets Revealed contains Michelle's 3-Step Infection-Free Method™, a complete how-to guide to naturally prevent and stop MRSA & Staph infections. Get your copy now by clicking the blue button below.