February 2008
Staph infections
The important facts
Just a few years ago, a painful skin infection like a boil could be quickly wiped out with an antibiotic, such as amoxicillin.
But today, there's a form of staph, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), that has become resistant to antibiotics
in the penicillin family.
Researchers with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that MRSA was responsible for an estimated 19,000 deaths in 2005. MRSA infections occur most frequently in hospitals and other health-care facilities, but they can also cause illness elsewhere, particularly in crowded areas like schools and gyms. Here are answers to some common questions about it.
Is MRSA spreading faster, or are we just hearing more about it in the news?
It's not clear whether the spike is due to a rising number of infections or increased awareness by health-care professionals and the public. Either way, there is cause for concern. About 95,000 people in the U.S. had an invasive MRSA infection in 2005. Fourteen percent of those infected probably got it in community settings, since they had not recently been in a hospital or health-care facility.
How will I know whether I've been infected?
A MRSA infection tends to occur near a cut or scrape, or on certain areas of the body, including the neck, groin, buttock, or armpit. It looks like a pimple or a boil and might be red, swollen and painful, or have pus in it. Many of the infections clear on their own. The basic way that MRSA becomes deadly is when bacteria enters the bloodstream. If the infected area becomes red, warm, tender, or bigger, or if a fever develops, see your doctor as quickly as possible.
Is there any treatment?
A doctor will lance the boil; that is often the only treatment needed. But never attempt to do it on your own. If the infection doesn't improve in a few days, you might need an antibiotic, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, and generic), which seems to be the most effective and safest option. It successfully treats most MRSA infections. Clindamycin (Cleocin) also effectively treats MRSA infections. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe an ointment such as mupirocin (Bactroban and generic).
How do I avoid getting infected or reinfected?
MRSA is transmitted mainly by direct skin-to-skin contact. Protect yourself by practicing good hygiene: keeping your hands clean by washing them with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub, and showering after working out; covering any cut or scrape with a clean, dry bandage; avoiding the sharing of personal items such as clothing, towels, and razors; using a cloth barrier between your skin and shared equipment in a gym or other community setting; and wiping equipment surfaces before and after you use them.
Researchers with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that MRSA was responsible for an estimated 19,000 deaths in 2005. MRSA infections occur most frequently in hospitals and other health-care facilities, but they can also cause illness elsewhere, particularly in crowded areas like schools and gyms. Here are answers to some common questions about it.
Is MRSA spreading faster, or are we just hearing more about it in the news?
It's not clear whether the spike is due to a rising number of infections or increased awareness by health-care professionals and the public. Either way, there is cause for concern. About 95,000 people in the U.S. had an invasive MRSA infection in 2005. Fourteen percent of those infected probably got it in community settings, since they had not recently been in a hospital or health-care facility.
How will I know whether I've been infected?
A MRSA infection tends to occur near a cut or scrape, or on certain areas of the body, including the neck, groin, buttock, or armpit. It looks like a pimple or a boil and might be red, swollen and painful, or have pus in it. Many of the infections clear on their own. The basic way that MRSA becomes deadly is when bacteria enters the bloodstream. If the infected area becomes red, warm, tender, or bigger, or if a fever develops, see your doctor as quickly as possible.
Is there any treatment?
A doctor will lance the boil; that is often the only treatment needed. But never attempt to do it on your own. If the infection doesn't improve in a few days, you might need an antibiotic, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, and generic), which seems to be the most effective and safest option. It successfully treats most MRSA infections. Clindamycin (Cleocin) also effectively treats MRSA infections. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe an ointment such as mupirocin (Bactroban and generic).
How do I avoid getting infected or reinfected?
MRSA is transmitted mainly by direct skin-to-skin contact. Protect yourself by practicing good hygiene: keeping your hands clean by washing them with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand rub, and showering after working out; covering any cut or scrape with a clean, dry bandage; avoiding the sharing of personal items such as clothing, towels, and razors; using a cloth barrier between your skin and shared equipment in a gym or other community setting; and wiping equipment surfaces before and after you use them.
