Many people are concerned about what MRSA symptoms to look for. The MRSA infection is the acronym for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Staph. Aureus is a common type of bacteria that might be on us right now. Because it is classified as a bacterium in the staphylococcus family, the infections this bacterium causes are called staph infections. MRSA is a special type of the S. Aureus bacteria that has become resistant to one or more antibiotics, especially methicillin. Therefore it is harder to treat, making many people want to know the symptoms and signs of this antimicrobial resistant bacillus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 25% to 30% of the populace have staph microbes living on them, especially in the nose. However, there are no visible symptoms because the staphylococcal organisms are not spreading out of control, which is called an infection. The immune system and good hygiene keep the aureus “bugs” under control so that they do not bother us. If you come into skin contact with someone with a M.R.S.A. infection, live in crowded conditions, or have poor hygiene, you should know what the symptoms of the M-R-S-A infection are.

The primary sign and symptom of MRSA is that the infection looks like an angry pimple or boil. It looks like a sore that might be large or small, red, swollen, and sometimes drains pus or other liquids. If you encounter someone with these staph symptoms, or have this infectious condition yourself, keep your wound clean and thoroughly covered. This antibiotic resistant form of staph is spread when others come into contact with the pus or liquid from the sore. This can be direct skin-to-skin contact which spreads the infection, or merely contacting a surface which contains drainage from another person with a MRSA lesion. That is why you should take appropriate MRSA precautions. Note that the symptoms for CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA should be the same, because these two types refer to the same disease.

Another symptom of the antibiotic-resistant staph infection is that it looks like a spider bite. Spider bites can also appear as red, swollen sores sometimes with drainage. However, a drug-resistant staphylococcus infection will not have any visible puncture points, as a spider bite might sometimes have.

It is difficult for non-medical people, and even some doctors, to tell the difference between a normal staph infection, a spider bite, and MRSA. If you have a sore, pimple, boil, or lesion on your skin that drains pus or just will not heal, visit your doctor immediately, because you might be experiencing one or more of the MRSA symptoms.

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

Tags: Health health wellness Health and wellness Wellness MRSA Symptoms staph infection skin infection

This entry was posted on Sunday, December 16th, 2007 at 5:14 pm and is filed under Skin Care, Health, Diseases, Infections, MRSA. Both comments and pings are currently closed.