Group items tagged

MRSA infection in a dairy cow

MRSA infections reported in horses, dogs, cats, pet birds, cattle and pigs.

MRSA is spread by direct physical contact with another person or animal

Athletes Military recruits People with weakened immune systems (i.e., immunocompromised)

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Hospital patients Incarcerated individuals Nursing home residents

Children in day care

(reverse zoonotic

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus or MRSA (usually pronounced "mur-sah") is a type of bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium on skin, and it is not usually a problem. However, when the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are not susceptible to the antibiotic methicillin (ie, methicillin does not kill the bacteria or stop its growth), it is considered to be MRSA. Bacteria resistant to methicillin are often resistant to other antibiotics as well.

If MRSA is present, it is commonly carried on the skin or in the nasal passages of healthy people and/or pets. If an infection is present, it can be found almost anywhere—especially where there's a skin wound or sore

does not exhibit symptoms of disease is considered to be "colonized

who do exhibit symptoms

considered "infected"

rain has different ways of infecting people and unique ways of protecting itself from antibiotic treatments. An antibiotic that works for one strain may be useless against another

MRSA can cause deadly and aggressively spreading infections

MSSA. Methicillin-Sensitive Staph Aureus is a common type of Staph that is vulnerable to the methicillin class of antibiotics and therefore easier to treat. This “common Staph” infection is often seen on bacterial culture test results. VRSA. Short for Vancomycin-Resistant Staph Aureus, this rare type of Staph has become immune to a common “last resort” antibiotic called vancomycin. VISA. Vancomycin-Intermediate Staph Aureus is similar to VRSA, but the bacteria are only partially resistant to the vancomycin. ORSA. Another name for MRSA, Oxacillin-Resistant Staph aureus, as the name suggests, is resistant to Oxacillin, an antibiotic of the same class as methicillin. CA-MRSA. These are strains of MRSA found in community and public places. These strains tend to cause skin infections and are often easier to treat with antibiotics. However, CA-MRSA often strikes young and otherwise healthy people and can be deadly in some cases. HA-MRSA. These are strains of MRSA found in hospitals and other healthcare settings. As you’ll see further below, MRSA first got started in hospitals. Healthcare-associated MRSA often causes internal infections and can be more challenging to treat. LA-MRSA. There are strains of MRSA associated with livestock and feed animals. These strains have also be found on livestock caretakers. Livestock-associated MRSA is a new area of study. MRSA has also been found in our food supply: conventionally raised pork, beef and chicken.

MRSA is a type of Staph bacteria (a.k.a. Staphylococcus aureus) that is more 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.

o 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. If you have a Staph infection, it doesn’t mean you have MRSA

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in the year 2005, MRSA was responsible for an estimated 94,000 life-threatening infections and close to 19,000 deaths (more than AIDS)

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.