Part of an ongoing series dedicated to raising health and safety awareness across the Temple community.
MRSA, an increasingly common, antibiotic-resistant infection, has been widely covered in the media this year. This article addresses exactly what MRSA is, and some simple steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Staph aureus and antibiotics
Since the discovery of antibiotics, beginning with penicillin in the 1940s, bacterial infections have become easier to treat. This has obviously benefited millions of patients who would have developed serious complications from untreated bacterial infections.
Unfortunately, the widespread and often inappropriate use of antibiotics (using them to treat viral infections such as the common cold or flu) has caused bacteria to “evolve” and become resistant to them. MRSA is one of these antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a variation of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which is normally found on the skin and usually causes no problems in the day-to-day activity of healthy people. If a break in the skin occurs, Staph aureus can cause infections such as furuncles (also known as “boils” or infected hair follicles) and cellulitis (infection of the skin).
MRSA (pronounced MUR-sah) is similar to regular Staph aureus in that they both can cause the same infections. However, MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics that used to be able to treat regular Staph aureus, and therefore requires different types of antibiotics to treat the infections it causes.
Initially, MRSA infections occurred mainly in hospitals and nursing homes, because these are places where antibiotics are frequently used and people with weakened immune systems are found. However, as noted in the press recently, more cases of MRSA infection are being encountered in the community.
Prevention
MRSA, like other infections, can be prevented with good hygiene. Since MRSA is most often transmitted by skin-to-skin contact or contact with surfaces contaminated with MRSA, the following actions may help to reduce your chances of getting infected:
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Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after contact with frequently used surfaces (exercise equipment, subways, public restrooms).
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Shower immediately after participating in exercise.
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Wash scrapes and cuts with soap and water and then cover with a clean, dry bandage.
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Avoid sharing personal items that have direct contact with the skin (such as towels or razors).
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Use a towel as a barrier between your skin and shared equipment, such as weight-training benches.
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When exercising at a gym, use disinfectants on equipment surfaces before you use them (most gyms have these available).
Most simple cuts and scrapes heal on their own and require only washing with soap and water and coverage with a bandage.
Diagnosis
The only way to know for sure if you have a MRSA infection is to have a health professional take a bacterial culture of the affected area. This can only be done in cases where the infection is draining fluid or there is a collection of fluid under the surface of the skin.
Treatment
Untreated Staph infections can go on to cause more serious problems such as infection of the blood, bones and heart valves or pneumonia.
If pain, redness and warmth develops around a cut or hair follicle and doesn’t seem to be improving, you should seek medical attention promptly. These skin infections can be treated by draining any collections of pus and sometimes require antibiotics.
MRSA is resistant to some, but not all antibiotics. Some MRSA infections that do not respond to antibiotic pills may require hospitalization for treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
For more information on CA-MRSA, go to www.cdc.gov/Features/MRSAinSchools and www.phila.gov/Health/pdfs/CA-MRSA_brochure.pdf. If you are a student and have further questions, contact Student Health Services at 215-204-7500 or studenthealth@temple.edu. Employees should contact Employee Health Services at 215-204-2679 or emphs@temple.edu.
— Written by Dr. Joshua Rosenzweig, M.D., M.P.H., Employee Health physician at Temple University, as part of an ongoing series of health and safety articles aiming to raise awareness among Temple employees, faculty and students about a range of health and safety issues. The initiative was developed by Temple’s Health and Safety Awareness Committee, comprising members from across the university community. If you have health and safety questions, concerns and/or suggestions, please contact the Health and Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.
Related article: Temple Emergency Medicine receives $1.8M to find best MRSA treatment [http://www.temple.edu/newsroom/2007_2008/09/stories/mrsa.htm]