Living with MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus)

By Avanti Vadivelu

Right now you may be harboring a fairly innocent bacteria called staph (staphylococcus) on your skin or in your nose without even knowing it. This bacteria can live on many skin surfaces, especially around the nose, mouth, genitals, and anus and is usually spread from person to person when living in close proximity. According to www.kidshealth.org, the spreading of staph occurs most commonly when people with skin infections share things like bed linens, towels, or clothing (think dormitory living). Usually, staph bacteria does not cause any harm.

However, when the skin is punctured or broken for any reason, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection. These infections are a little more serious, but more often than not can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

When common antibiotics do not kill the staph bacteria, it means the bacteria have become resistant to those antibiotics. Such staph is classified as MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). MRSA usually causes infections to the skin and may look like spider bites, boils, a swollen cut, or blisters filled with pus and could be mild, or life threatening. Anyone is at risk of getting MRSA, which is contagious through skin-to-skin contact. (Source: Mahaska Health Partnership)

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 2.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with MRSA. Most often it is found in hospitals or among people with weakened immune systems. Although, recent cases of MRSA affecting otherwise healthy people have been reported. For instance, according to WebMD.com, new research shows a Fall 2003 outbreak of MRSA skin infections among the St. Louis Rams. It was assumed that these infections were likely spread among players on as well as off the field through rough play and shared towels, whirlpools, and weights. Since then, other football players were found to have MRSA and several unnecessary precautions were taken to try to stop the spread of MRSA such as spraying antibiotics on football fields. A public scare regarding MRSA was being fueled by media frenzy. Of course, if you believe that you may have MRSA, proper medical attention is absolutely necessary.

Most people with MRSA infections can be treated and can no longer have MRSA. Others harbor MRSA even after the infections seems to have disappeared. Nevertheless, if you are diagnosed with MRSA, it is still possible to lead a normal, healthy life without infecting others.

Here are some helpful tips on how to live well with MRSA:

 Do not poke or squeeze the sores
 Do not touch sores
 Cover all sores with clean bandages and/or clothing
 Be especially careful around those with weak immune systems (the elderly, newborns, etc.)
 Clean your bathroom well if MRSA is found in your urine or feces
 Avoid participating in contact sports
 Avoid frequenting public gyms, saunas, hot tubs or pools
 Avoid getting manicures or having your hair done at public spots until sores are healed
 Shower well with soap before and after participating in sports activities or working out at the gym
 Shower before any intimate skin-to-skin contact with another person
 Wash your hands frequently
 Keep your fingernails short
 Carry and use alcohol-based hand gel wherever soap and water are not available
 Change and wash your clothes after each use
 Do not share personal items with anyone
 Clean and cover any new cuts or scrapes on your skin immediately (remembering that MRSA lives on the skin and is waiting for any kind of “entry way” into your body)
(Source: Mahaska Health Partnership)

Washing your hands and making sure others don’t come into contact with your skin is the best way to help stop the spread of MRSA. By taking the proper precautions and by completely understanding MRSA and how it spreads you, too, can lead a normal healthy life. There is no reason to live in fear, or in isolation!