Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Description

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is bacterial infection caused by special kind of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria are resistant to usual antibiotics and require treatment with special medicines not used normally. The bacteria may appear on the skin or in the nose and will not always cause an infection. These people have been colonized but actually without getting ill. The infection may affect any other part of the body but most often attacks the skin and soft tissues (cellulitus) or causes formation of pus (abscess). In past, MRSA had been almost seen exclusively in hospitalized patients (MRSA acquired in hospital) but now is more commonly found in generally healthy persons regardless the contact with the persons on hospital or home treatment (MRSA acquired in the community). Certain people are exposed to greater risk for development MRSA acquired in the community, for example: persons practice contact sports, the ones who live with many people in one place (dormitories, etc.), the ones who share towels and sports equipment with others, patients with weaken immune system and people related with health care providers. The infections may localize on the skin or to spread and become fatal. Infants are especially susceptible to more severe form of the disease.

Symptoms

Red, swollen and painful spots on the skin. Leakage of pus (yellow smelly fluid), fever, skin abscesses, warn skin around the infected area, red stripes extending up arm or leg (lymphagitis). More severe infections cause chest pain, chills, fatigue, fever, bad general health condition (valetudinarianism), headache, muscle pain, red skin rash, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, low blood pressure.

Overview

Anamnesis will be taken and medical examination will be done. Further tests depend on the clinical image. MRSA is generally identified by taking culture of the wound, blood or urine. Imaging procedures may be done to determine presence of purulent formations (abscesses) or extent of the disease. Other tests may be done for determining damages to other organs.

Tests

Hemoculture, Complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, urine culture, wound culture and X-rays.

Specialists

General Practice, Infectology, Internal Medicine

Therapy

Therapy depends on the extent of the infection. Common abscess usually requires only incision and drainage of pus. More severe MRSA infection requires administration of antibiotics. Choice on use oral or intravenous medicines depends on the severity of infection and general health condition of the patient. Antibiotics resistance is an increasing problem. Medicines currently in use are: trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Bactrim DS, Septra, Septra DS), linezolid (Zyvox), daptomycin (Cubicin) and vancomycin (Vancocin, Vancoled). Persons with very severe infections may need blood pressure regulation and respiratory support, as well as the therapy to prevent damage to vital organs such as renal failure.