MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a serious infection that first became a concern in the early 1960s. Since that time, it has spread and evolved into new strains. It’s wasn’t widely known until the 1990s, but now, it has become a serious widespread issue. Because of that, even hearing the term can make some people anxious.
This infection is far more common than it was in the beginning, and it’s contagious. It’s also resistant to the antibiotics that are often used to treat other infections. Those are some of the reasons why it strikes such fear in people’s hearts. Understanding the infection itself and potential mrsa symptoms and treatment options can help ease your worry and empower you to protect yourself against it.
What Is MRSA?
As mentioned, MRSA is a serious staph infection. Staph bacteria are actually very common. They can cause a variety of infections from boils and skin infections to pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis. The difference here is that other staph infections can be treated fairly easily with a range of antibiotics. MRSA, as the name indicates, is resistant to the usual antibiotics used to treat staph infections. That makes it more difficult to eliminate.
How Is MRSA Spread?
MRSA is most often spread through direct contact with someone who’s infected with it. It’s also possible to contract MRSA by touching contaminated surfaces or items, including phones, desks, towels, and gym equipment. It can work its way into even tiny cuts, scrapes, and other openings in the skin. It can also be spread through the air in droplets from coughing and sneezing, but those cases are more rare than direct contact infections.
What Are the Symptoms of a MRSA Infection?
Most of the time, MRSA starts out small. In its earliest stages, it can cause spots on the skin that look like pimples, boils, or blisters. Those spots are often red, swollen, painful, and warm to the touch. Many people mistake them for typical pimples or spider bites at first.
As the infection spreads, it can cause more noticeable symptoms. Those might include fever, chills, and fatigue. If left untreated, it can work its way into the bloodstream and affect organs and bones. Signs of a serious MRSA infection can include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and confusion.
Having a pimple or blister on your skin isn’t necessarily a reason to panic. In all likelihood, it’s exactly what it looks like. If those spots get overly painful, seem to spread, or you experience any of those more troubling symptoms along with it, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention.
How Is MRSA Treated?
MRSA doesn’t respond to standard antibiotics as readily as other staph infections do. That doesn’t mean it’s not treatable, though. For minor skin infections, doctors often drain the affected area and prescribe one of the antibiotics the bacteria aren’t resistant to. Don’t try to squeeze or lance infected patches on your own at home, though. Doing so could make the infection worse and spread it to others.
In more severe cases, patients are often hospitalized for MRSA infections. They receive IV antibiotics and intensive wound care to attack the infection both internally and externally. In rare instances, surgery might be necessary to remove infected tissue that’s beyond saving.
Protecting Yourself Against MRSA
It’s often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Protecting yourself against MRSA is easier than treating it. Frequently washing your hands, keeping cuts and scrapes covered, and avoiding sharing personal items like razors and towels can greatly reduce your risks of getting an infection. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned here, seek medical care as quickly as possible. The earlier you catch an infection and start receiving treatment, the easier it’ll be to resolve and the lower your risk of complications will be.
