MRSA myths

1. What exactly is MRSA?

MRSA stands for Methicillen resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

This means it is bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillen (and most antibiotics in the penicillen class)

2. MRSA is one of the brand new "superbugs" that the health care system isn't telling anyone about.

MRSA has been around for a long time in the health care system. It was previously found mainly in hospitals and jails.

More cases of community-acquired MRSA are showing up than in previous years.

It is actually a very treatable infection in most cases, so the classification of MRSA as a "superbug" is dubious.

More research is currently being done to deterine why it's cropping up more frequently in the community.

3. The first signs of a MRSA infection are often respiratory symptoms.

The first signs of a MRSA infection are often skin symptoms.

The patient may notice a rash or a boil that doesn't heal. It may be red and painful. In fact, it's often mistaken for an infected spider bite.

4. MRSA is deadly to anyone who gets it.

MRSA isn't usually deadly. There are rare circumstances where some patients encounter an especially virulent strain of MRSA that enters the bloodstream.

These patients may become very ill and they often come into a health care facility with a high fever.

Most community-acquired MRSA presents as a skin rash or boil that isn't healing, and these patients tend to do just fine with drainage of the abscess or boil (often curative in and of itself).

Some patients require antibiotics such as Bactrim, Cipro, or Doxycycline.

5. People with MRSA should be isolated and made to stay home from work/school/day care, etc.

MRSA is contagious both through bodily contact and contaminated surfaces.

That being said, most of us can protect ourselves with good hand hygiene.

If the wound is covered and the patient is on antibiotics or undergoing treatment, there should be no reason the patient cannot go about their daily lives if they feel well.