Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isbacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance, firstpenicillin1947,latermethicillin. Popularly termed"superbug",was first discoveredBritain1961is now widespread.
While an MRSA colonisationan otherwise healthy individualnot usuallyserious matter, infection withorganism can be life-threateningpatientsdeep wounds, intravenous catheters or other foreign-body instrumentation; or assecondary infectionpatientscompromised immune systems.
InUSA thereincreasing reportsoutbreaksMRSA colonisation through skin contactlocker roomsgymnasiums, even among healthy populations,MRSA causes as many as 20%Staph aureus infectionspopulations that use intravenous drugs.
FromUS CDC's MRSA Fact Sheet:
- "HowstaphMRSA spread? - Staph bacteriaMRSA can spread among people having close contactinfected people. MRSAalmost always spread by direct physical contact,not throughair. Spread may also occur through indirect contact by touching objects (i.e., towels, sheets, wound dressings, clothes, workout areas, sports equipment) contaminated byinfected skin ofpersonMRSA or staph bacteria."
- "Are staphMRSA infections treatable? - Yes. Most staph bacteriaMRSAsusceptibleseveral antibiotics. Furthermore, most staph skin infections can be treated without antibiotics by drainingsore. However, if antibioticsprescribed, patients should completefull coursecall their doctors ifinfection does not get better. Patients whoonly colonizedstaph bacteria or MRSA usually do not need treatment." [emphasis added]
- VRSA
