"What is MRSA? And will I get better if I have MRSA?" The answer is yes, IF you educate and empower yourself with information your Doctor probably isn't be telling you - read on below.
What is MRSA and how does it
differ from a Staph infection?
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"What is MRSA? MRSA is a type of Staph bacteria that can cause very serious bacterial infections. MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. MRSA is caused by Staphylococcus aureus or "Staph," that has acquired an immunity or resistance to
the penicillin type of antibiotics and other currently used antibiotics. There is no MRSA virus and therefore no MRSA vaccination as some have suggested. MRSA is strictly a bacterial infection.
What is MRSA and how did it get started? Antibiotics have been used only since the 1940's to stop the growth of bacteria. Unfortunately, the more antibiotics are used, and abused, the quicker bacteria learn to overcome the antibiotic and become resistant to it. Each year more types of bacteria adapt and become resistant to antibiotics.
With MRSA being so resistant to many of the best antibiotics, it makes treatment of skin infections and invasive internal infections much more problematic, resulting in many yearly deaths. In fact, MRSA statistics show that more people die each year from MRSA infections than the AIDS virus. This nasty bacteria is also responsible for the "flesh-eating" disease you've likely heard of.
The question "What is MRSA" is one that is often asked by many as it is known by many different names. MRSA (pronounced "Mursa") is also referred to as a Mercer Staph infection, MERSA Staph infection, or as MRSA Staff infection. These all refer to the same thing: MRSA. MRSA is much more resistant to the following antibiotics:
- Methicillin, Oxacillin, Penicillin, and Amoxicillin - these are all in the penicillin antibiotic family
- Cephalosporins - these antibiotics are an another class of Penicillin-like antibiotics
- Vancomycin - some strains of MRSA (VISA and VRSA) are now becoming resistant to Vancomycin, one of the best last resort antibiotics. Vancomycin has traditionally been used for serious and life-threatening infections that are not responsive to more common antibiotics.
Unfortunately, MRSA is constantly becoming more resistant to more antibiotics, and it may be a matter of time before antibiotics can no longer can be relied upon.
How to Test for MRSA
If you have a Staph infection, it doesn't mean you have MRSA. This website will address both types of infections, because in many respects, they are equally important and are often treated in similar ways. If you currently have an infection, it's important to know how to work with it properly to prevent re-infection.
Be sure to read more about Staph infection treatment options for these bacterial infections.
It's important to know how to test for MRSA. To conclusively know if you have a MRSA infection, you'll need to have a Doctor perform a culture test to identify your infection-causing bacteria. Be sure to see the MRSA treatment page to learn how to ask your doctor for the right test.
MRSA - A Growing Concern
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria up close as seen under a scanning electron microscope.
Photo Credit: CDC/ Jim Biddle, Janice Haney Carr |
Staph infections and MRSA have been a growing menace and concern for many years now and things are only getting worse. Because MRSA is a growing health issue in the US and around the world, people are asking "What is MRSA" and "how can I protect myself and my family from getting MRSA"?
MRSA Statistics
- According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the year 2005, mrsa was responsible for an estimated 94,000 invasive life-threatening infections and close to 19,000 deaths (more than AIDS).
- In the US in 2003, there were an estimated 12 million doctor or emergency room visits for skin and soft tissue infections suspected to be caused by staph aureus.
- Hospitals in England have seen a 548% increase in MRSA related deaths from 2003 to 2004!
Often called Hospital Acquired MRSA, HA-MRSA is usually picked up from a hospital stay. Until recently, most MRSA cases were contracted in hospital or healthcare environments, like nursing homes and dialysis centers. Hospital patients with open wounds, invasive devices like catheters or IV's, and weakened immune systems are at greater risk for an HA-MRSA infection than the
general public. HA-MRSA is still a big problem for those undergoing hospitalization.
HA-MRSA Statistics
- Approximately 20% of bloodstream infections in hospitals are now caused by the Staph aureus bacteria.
- In 2003, 64.4% of hospital onset bacterial infections in intensive care units were HA-MRSA infections.
- Types of post-operative hospital infections have changed over the years from typically wound infections in the 1960's to urinary tract infections in the 1970's and 1980's.
- Currently 43% of post-operative hospital infections are now pneumonia! This drastically increases a patients chance for death when MRSA is concerned. Be sure to read the Staph infection treatment.
Unfortunately, hospital staff who do not follow proper sanitary procedures inadvertently transfer bacteria from patient to patient. Some hospitals screen for MRSA and isolate such patients, but most US hospitals do not yet do this.
If you are visiting a hospital soon, or are going to be an inpatient in a hospital, be sure to learn the facts about MRSA infection, how to protect yourself and your family, and how to control the spread of MRSA in these environments.
MRSA Cutaneous Abscess.
Photo Credit: CDC/ Bruno Coignard, M.D.; Jeff Hageman, M.H.S. |
Until recently, hospitals were the most likely area you would get MRSA. The biggest MRSA health risk right now is CA-MRSA. CA-MRSA are infections that occur in healthy people who have not been hospitalized within the last year. CA-MRSA also applies to people who acquire MRSA who've not had any medical procedure done within the last year in a health-care facility such as dialysis, surgery, or catheters.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), CA-MRSA has become the most frequent cause of skin and soft tissue infections presenting to emergency departments in the United States. CA-MRSA infections are usually skin infections, such as abscesses, boils, and other pus-filled lesions.
How do I get CA-MRSA? Read about MRSA infection control to learn about transmission and how you can protect yourself against MRSA and Staph bacteria.
Are you worried about spreading MRSA or Staph to your friends or family?
Are you frustrated because your treatment isn't working?
MRSA and Staph are serious and potentially life-threatening infections.
Fortunately, there are simple actions you can take to turn your infection around, so long as you know what critical mistakes not to make.
We'll walk you through the steps to becoming infection-free and worry-free so you can feel better faster, protect your family, and avoid recurring infections.
Written by Microbiologist and Staph Researcher Michelle Moore, the book MRSA Secrets Revealed is an up-to-date resource on how to overcome Staph and MRSA. With extensive experience in both the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Natural Health arena, Michelle has created a balanced approach that has helped thousands of people in understanding and overcoming their infections.
Get your copy of this comprehensive resource now by clicking on the blue button below.
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