The MRSA infection, often pronounced “mersa” or “mursa,” is the acronym for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus or “staph” is a common type of bacteria. Everyone is surrounded by a virtual cloud of invisible bacteria, fungi, viruses, molds, spores, and other microscopic forms of life. These things maybe be found both on the inside and outside of the body. Normally, these germs do not cause a problem.

Under abnormal circumstances, however, these germs can find a good place to grow and possibly get out of control. This is called an infection, and in the case of M.R.S.A., it is a staph infection. The immune system normally kills these budding staphylococcus infections before they can become a problem. However, individuals susceptible to bacterial infections, such as those with weakened immune systems, may not be able to cope with the growing colony of bacteria. That is when drugs such as methicillin are used to kill the germs in the affected area.

Methicillin sounds similar to penicillin, and both are antibiotics. A strain of the bacterium called “Staphylococcus aureus” has become resistant to methicillin. It may also be resistant to the wonder drug penicillin, and the family of drugs called cephalosporins. This antimicrobial drug is one of the main treatments for this particular staph infection. A methicillin-resistant strain is spreading around U.S. schools, causing panic to students and parents alike.

The aureus staph infection symptom appears as a type of nasty looking skin eruption, such as a sore, pimple, or boil. You can see pictures on the news or on health websites. Another antimicrobial called vancomycin has been used by doctors and hospitals with good cure success when administered intravenously into the blood stream instead of orally. However, reliance on a single drug for treatment runs the risk of developing a staph strain that is also resistant to that drug too.

Personal cleanliness, such as frequent handwashing, is key to prevention. This methicillin-resistant bacterial infection is more prevalent where there are groups of people together, such as hospitals. The people who get it do not have to be sick already, though. The M.R.S.A. infection is showing up more frequently in schools and similar areas where children congregate for long periods of time.

Persons with suspicious skin sores, pimples, boils, or lesions should see their doctors immediately to determine if they have Staph. Aureus, and even worse, the methicillin-resistant strain that causes the MRSA infection.

Copyright 2007 by Doug Smith. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Unauthorized Duplication Prohibited.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, November 17th, 2007 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Diseases, Infections. Both comments and pings are currently closed.