MRSA = methicillin-resistant or multiple antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

From: Kath Findlay (kath.findlay@adhesions.org.uk)
Fri Aug 23 17:24:55 2002


Hi Chrissie,

This is the article on MRSA

In Friendship Kath Findlay

The UK Adhesion Society

http://www.adhesions.org.uk

Kath.Findlay@adhesions.org.uk

MRSA = methicillin-resistant or multiple antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

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MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant or multiple antibiotic-resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus.

Staphylococcus Aureus (sometimes shortened to Staph aureus) are a group of bacteria which are very commonly found on the skin and cause infections. But there are many different types of Staph aureus. The particular type known as MRSA is causing increasing problems because, as the name suggests, it is very resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Even some of our most powerful antibiotics, such as methicillin, can't stop it in its tracks.

Some people call MRSA a "superbug" although this term is better saved for a few types of MRSA which are even more resistant than ever.

Common after surgery

MRSA used to be mostly seen in people who were in hospital for a long stay, undergoing a lot of surgery and particularly spending time in an Intensive Care Unit. Sometimes it causes very severe and progressive infections, but in many cases it causes less serious infections - albeit ones which rumble on (such as your wound infection seems to be doing) for weeks and months. Some people carry MRSA on their skin or in their throat without even knowing it.

As the infections are chronic, people with MRSA have increasingly been sent home from hospital, taking the infection out into the community. It is not clear how much of a risk this is. Healthy people very rarely get MRSA - the main risk is when your defences are low - and touching or hugging someone with MRSA will not harm you if you yourself are well.

Some antibiotics still work in almost every cases

Although the bacteria is resistant, there are still some antibiotics which work against it. Most important is one called vancomycin, although there are now reports appearing about MRSA resistant to this antibiotic too.

Hospitals are trying to control the situation by screening to find people carrying the bacteria, and carefully controlling which antibiotics are used and how.

If you have MRSA...

If the tests show you do have an MRSA infection, you will need to take antibiotics recommended by the local laboratory, who will know what is effective against your MRSA. If you need to go into hospital again, you may be put in isolation (the infection is passed on by contact) and those looking after you may need to be scrupulously careful about hand washing and other hygiene measures.

In Friendship Kath Findlay

The UK Adhesion Society

http://www.adhesions.org.uk

Kath.Findlay@adhesions.org.uk


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