How is MRSA contracted?

Answer 1

MRSA is spread via contact through the mucous membranes or open wounds. I can tell you from personal experience with working in hospital settings, that the vast majority of MRSA cases in hospitals (where MRSA is usually contracted) is the result of nurses and aids moving from room to room with using gloves or washing hands. I've also worked in hospital as a nurse. MRSA is now rampant, old systems of cleaning wards kept infection MRSA at bay. POOR OR NO HANDWASHING is main cause of mrsa. Doctors sthethoscops have thought to spread MRSA. All health professionals should take time to thoroughly wash hands. When youare in hospital, had surgery, immune system weakens. With an open wound mrsa spreads quickly, thus entering blood stream

Answer 2

This section contains general information concerning the problem of MRSA under the following sections; What is MRSA? Why bother with MRSA? How do we prevent the spread of MRSA? What do visitors need to do? What about MRSA at home? What can be done about MRSA? What is MRSA? The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals skin and seems to cause no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia. Individuals who carry this organism are usually totally healthy, have no problems whatever and are considered simply to be carriers of the organism. The term MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is used to describe those examples of this organism that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Methicillin was an antibiotic used many years ago to treat patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections. It is now no longer used except as a means of identifying this particular type of antibiotic resistance. Individuals can become carriers of MRSA in the same way that they can become a carrier of ordinary Staphylococcus aureus which is by physical contact with the organism. If the organism is on the skin then it can be passed around by physical contact. If the organism is in the nose or is associated with the lungs rather than the skin then it may be passed around by droplet spread from the mouth and nose. We can find out if and where Staphylococcus aureus is located on a patient by taking various samples, sending them to the laboratory and growing the organism. Tests done on any Staphylococcus aureus grown from such specimens can then decide how sensitive the organisms is to antibiotics and if it is a methicillin resistant (MRSA) organism. These test usually take 2-3 days. Why bother with MRSA? MRSA organisms are often associated with patients in hospitals but can also be found on patients not in a hospital. Usually it is not necessary to do anything about MRSA organisms. However if MRSA organisms are passed on to someone who is already ill, then a more serious infection may occur in that individual. When patients with MRSA are discovered in a hospital, the hospital will usually try to prevent it from passing around to other patients. This is known as infection control. How do we prevent the spread of MRSA? Measures to prevent the spread of organisms from one person to another are called isolation or infection control. The type of infection control or isolation required for any patient depends on the organism, where the organisms is found on an individual and the patient. The most important type of isolation required for MRSA is what is called Contact Isolation. This type of isolation requires everyone in contact with the patient to be very careful about hand washing after touching either the patient or anything in contact with the patient. If the organism is in the nose or lungs it may also be necessary to have the patient in a room to prevent spread to others by droplet spread. Because dust and surfaces can become contaminated with the organism, cleaning of surfaces are also important. This usually occurs after the patient leaves the hospital. If a number of patients are infected with the same organism it is possible to nurse them in the same area. On occasions for the sake of other patients it may be necessary to move carriers of MRSA to an isolation unit such as ours which specializes in isolating all types of infections to protect other persons. The medical care of such patients will continue in an isolation unit which are well used to caring for all types of medical and surgical problems associated with infections. What do visitors need to do? Provided relatives and friends of patients with MRSA are healthy there is no restriction on visiting and it carries no risk. Visitors are not required to wear special clothing BUT we would ask you to help us prevent this organism spreading around our hospital by keeping the patients' door closed at all times and always washing your hands whenever you leave the room. What about MRSA at home? In patients who are otherwise well the organisms often disappear once the patient leaves the hospital. Sometimes they do not however, and this may mean that when a patient has to go back into hospital the isolation precautions need to be used again. Provided everyone at home is healthy special precautions are not required at home. What can be done about MRSA? In certain situations it may be a good idea to try to get rid of the organism from a patient and this can be done with various creams and shampoos or on occasions combinations of antibiotics taken by mouth or by injection depending on the health of the patient.

Answer 3

Yes, when this occurs it is called bactericemia (refers to simply the presence of the bacteria in the blood). This can lead to septacemia which is a life threatening condition and should be treated immediately. I apologize. The condition of having the bacteria in the blood is "bacteraemia". I incorrectly said bacteriacemia.

Answer 4

MRSA is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or through contact with items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else's infection (e.g., towels, sheets, sports equipment, bandages, razors). Breaks in the skin such as cuts or abrasions can allow MRSA to enter the body and cause infection. Unsanitary living conditions or participation in contact sports can increase the risk of MRSA transmission. Hope this helps love,Sonya

Answer 5

If an individual is already carrying the MRSA bacterium, the person could be attacked when there is a cut or lesion in the skin. Nevertheless, the spread of this disease is mainly related to the immediate surroundings. The spread of MRSA primarily occurs in hospitals where most people curently have a weakened immune system.