MRSA/Staph Infection

Our Approach

Our doctors diagnose MRSA through a lab analysis:

1. They collect a tissue sample of the infected area.
2. Then they grow it in a Petri dish to check for the presence of MRSA.

Because MRSA still responds to some antibiotics, our doctors can prescribe effective medicines to heal the infection. In other cases, treatment may not be necessary.

What is MRSA?

MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus or "staph") bacteria. Staph resides in the nostrils. An estimated one-third of the population carries the bacteria, and it's mostly harmless.

But when staph enters the body through a cut, it can infect areas of the skin. MRSA infections differ from other staph infections because they are resistant to several commonly used antibiotics including:

• Amoxicillin
• Methicillin
• Oxacillin
• Penicillin

A MRSA infection rarely leads to more serious complications, such as pneumonia or organ damage. These complications happen when the bacteria spread beyond the skin to other parts of the body.

People who are more susceptible to serious complications from a MRSA infection include:

• People with weakened immune systems
• The elderly

What causes staph infections?

MRSA infections generally fall into two categories:

Hospital-associated MRSA: Hospital-associated MRSA infections are the most common type of transmission that takes place in healthcare settings. The risk is higher because wounds may be exposed to infected surfaces, such as during surgery.

Community-associated MRSA: This type of infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact. It is becoming more common, particularly with full contact sports such as wrestling and football.

MRSA symptoms

MRSA and other types of staph infections usually appear as a red bump that may look like a spider bite or pimple. The swollen area is often painful and may fill with pus. MRSA can also cause a fever.

What causes antibiotic resistance?

Resistance to antibiotics often happens because of excessive and ineffective use of antibiotic prescriptions for viral infections. Bacteria can also develop resistance over time because the drugs don't kill all the bacteria.