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"

2005, admissions were triple the number in 2000 and 10-fold higher

In 2005 in th

e United

States alone, 368,600 hospital admissions for MRSA—including 94,000 invasive infections—resulted in 18,650 deaths.

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MRSA has evolved unpredictable resistance and epidemiology patterns in response to decades of successful antibiotic treatments that have been prescribed in all environments and have saved millions of lives.

The most frequent primary diagnosis associated with other S aureus–related infections was cellulitis and abscess, followed by postoperative infection, infections from an implanted device (Fig. 1), or graft and osteomyelitis.

As MRSA spreads into hospitals from the community, current insurance company and proposed governmental policies that penalize the healthcare system may be inappropriate.

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Community outbreaks have been reported in sports teams, child care attendees, prison inmates, and diverse populations where habitation is relatively concentrated.

MRSA that occur in nonhospital settings.

An MRSA skin infection looks like a boil, pimple or spider bite that may be: Red Swollen Painful Pus-filled and oozing

Back of the neck Groin Buttock Armpit Beard area on men

Skin-to-skin contact

Touching contaminated objects.

3 to 4 hours after eating the meal, the three adults--who had not eaten another common meal together in the preceding week--had nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

not become ill.

Vomiting ceased after treatment with phenothiazine,

welve cultures of S. aureus recovered from stool samples of the ill family members, food specimens, and nasal swabs of the food preparers were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for further testing.

This strain produced staphylococcal enterotoxin C and was identified as being MRSA.

esistant to penicillin and oxacillin

wo different strains of S. aureus recovered from the nasal swab of food preparer B

She reported no recent gastrointestinal illness nor chronic health problems, history of admission to a hospital, or use of antibiotics in the previous 6 months.

visit an elderly relative, who resided in a nursing home, approximately 2 to 3 times each month before the outbreak.

positive for two different strains of MSSA, but not MRSA

Staphylococcal food poisoning is estimated to account for 185,000 foodborne illnesses per year in the United States;

, MRSA has been considered primarily a health- care-associated pathogen, causing invasive disease in which multidrug resistance poses a substantial challenge to successful treatment.

s 20% to 40% of adults are estimated to be colonized at any time, a

MRSA becomes increasingly common in the community

However, damage to the skin or other injury may allow the bacteria to overcome the natural protective mechanisms of the body and lead to infection; because of its ability to destroy skin, it is also one of the types of bacteria that has been termed a "flesh-eating bacterium."

Keep cuts and abrasions clean and covered with sterile, dry bandages until they heal.

Keep wounds covered.

The pus from infected sores may contain MRSA, and keeping wounds covered will help keep the bacteria from spreading.

Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet.

towels, sheets, razors, clothing and athletic equipment.

MRSA spreads on contaminated objects as well as through direct contact.

If you have a cut or sore, wash towels and bed linens in a washing machine set to the hottest water setting (with added bleach, if possible) and dry them in a hot dryer.

Shower immediately after each game or practice.

Sanitize linens.

Shower after athletic games or practices.

Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another towel to turn off the faucet.

Wash your hands

Sanitize linens.

Wash gym and athletic clothes after each wearing.

Dr. Robert Daum, a researcher at the University of Chicago

CA-MRSA is transferred from the initial infected person to other members

Two clinical trials are underway to define the optimal treatment for skin and soft tissue infections caused by CA-MRSA.

For recent MRSA treatment guidance, see Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) website.

ntibiotic treatment, if indicated, should be guided by the susceptibility

MRSA skin infections can develop into more serious infections

Hospital care — Risk factors for becoming infected with hospital-associated MRSA include the following:●Having a surgical wound and/or intravenous (IV) line●Being hospitalized for a prolonged period of time●Recent use of antibiotics●Having a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or its treatment●Being in close proximity to other patients or healthcare workers who are colonized with MRSA

The skin may have a single raised red lump that is tender, a cluster of "pimples", or a large tender lump that drains pus (called a carbuncle). The area may enlarge and become progressively more tender, red, and swollen. The center of the raised area may ooze pus.

People with infections of the lung, bone, joint, or other internal areas usually require blood tests as well as imaging studies (eg, x-ray, computed tomography [CT] scan, echocardiogram).

Prevention in the hospital — In the hospital, MRSA is commonly spread to patients from the hands of healthcare workers. To minimize this risk, patients and family members can help to ensure that anyone who comes in contact with the patient washes their hands or uses an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after touching the patient. Patients with active infection should also wash their hands frequently.

Prevention in the community — The best way to prevent and control MRSA in the community is not clear. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made the following recommendations [4]:●Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water. Hands should be wet with water and plain soap and be rubbed together for 15 to 30 seconds. Special attention should be paid to the fingernails, between the fingers, and the wrists. Hands should be rinsed thoroughly and dried with a single-use towel (eg, paper towels).●Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a good alternative for disinfecting hands if a sink is not available. Hand sanitizers should be rubbed over the entire surface of hands, fingers, and wrists until dry and may be used several times. Hand sanitizers are available as a liquid or wipe in small, portable sizes that are easy to carry in a pocket or handbag. When a sink is available, visibly soiled hands should be washed with soap and water.●Keep cuts and scrapes clean, dry, and covered with a bandage until healed.●Avoid touching other people's wounds or bandages.●Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, clothing, or uniforms. Other items that should not be shared include brushes, combs, and makeup.●Students who participate in team sports should shower after every athletic activity using soap and clean towels. Athletes with skin infections should receive prompt treatment and should not compete when they have draining or active skin infections.●People who use exercise machines at sports clubs or schools should be sure to wipe down the equipment, including the hand grips, with an alcohol-based solution after using it.

Lungs (pneumonia) Bloodstream (bacteremia or septicemia) Soft tissue (cellulitis) Bone (osteomyelitis) Inner lining of the heart (endocarditis)

Treatment for MRSA skin infections may include having a healthcare professional drain the infection and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic. Do not attempt to drain the infection yourself – doing so could worsen or spread it to others. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses (even if the infection is getting better), unless your healthcare professional tells you to stop taking it.

MRSA infections can be spread through skin-to-skin contact or less frequently by touching surfaces that have MRSA on them. MRSA is typically spread by: Having direct contact with another person’s infection Sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that have touched infected skin Touching surfaces or items such as used bandages contaminated with MRSA

Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered Practice good hygiene such as cleaning hands regularly Avoid sharing personal items such as towels and razors