MRSA In Our Hospitals, Communities And Homes

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ) is often called the “Super-Bug”. MRSA is not a virus, it can be many strains of S. aureus bacteria and it is antibiotic resistant. A major concern about MRSA is the limited options for treatment, and now some sources of MRSA are outside of the hospital walls. Many studies are projecting over six million cases in 2010 – with a death rate of over 30% percent. MRSA could be considered a global plague. Most of us have heard about MRSA, and you may know someone who has been infected, and you may even know of someone who has died. There have been studies that have shown that 80% of tested common surfaces in hospitals, such as doors, walls, and elevator buttons, had evidence of MRSA. Some studies show a contamination rate as high as 64% of hospitals. MRSA is most likely to be contracted from hospitals (hospital-acquired infection). There is a continued effort to develop more antibiotics, but it is difficult because of its evolving resistance to more and more drugs.

In the last forty years, MRSA has become a big problem for hospitals and nursing homes because patients in these are facilities are there because of disease and surgery. These patients are in a weakened state and are very vulnerable because their immunity is lowered. Discovered in 1945, MRSA originally was treated with penicillin. Now it is antibiotic resistant.

It would seem to be natural, if MRSA is most likely to be spread by hand-to-hand contact, that it would imperative to have in place mandatory hand-washing procedures and other hygiene processes in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Since hospitals and healthcare facilities have implemented computer technology, there is an additional risk of transmission increasing by the use of computer keyboards.

CA-MRSA (community-associated MRSA), have been identified since late 1990’s. It appeared to have no relationship to the healthcare-associated MRSA strain, as there were no risk factors involved such as healthcare settings and the weak and immune compromised. CA-MRSA is concentrated in people that are in groups or group areas such locker rooms, contact sports, gyms, prisoners and military recruits. Although anyone can carry MRSA, (the majority of research shows that MRSA occurs mostly in our noses) and it can enter the body through injuries, incisions and open sores, then there it can develop into a fatal infection. Many people that have MRSA do not have symptoms, and to avoid contamination always properly wash your hands, bandage your cuts and scrapes, and never use others’ personal things such as razors and towels. MRSA can be also picked up from contaminated keyboards, walls, floors, door knobs, as well as direct physical contact.

Symptoms of MRSA can be fever, swelling, heat and pain around a wound or injury, headache, and fatigue. More severe conditions are infections in the bloodstream, joints, bones, surgical incisions, heart and lungs. Many cases will be not diagnosed because a bump may considered something as simple as a spider bite. If a bump or cut does not improve within three or four days, and if there are fever and flu symptoms, this can be MRSA.

The strains of MRSA are crossing the human and animal barrier. Reporting of infection in horses began to increase, and studies are showing that the infection can be passed from horses to humans and vice versa. In the Netherlands five years ago and then in Canada, there was detected another MRSA (ST398) strain in pigs, and now testing in the US has found this strain in farm workers and pigs. It is unclear, if this strain can cause a significant problem in humans, and if it can contaminate food supplies. If it were found that the ST398 can cause infections in humans, an entire new problem with MRSA contamination will develop, and this will further complicate the fight. MRSA can even infect our companion animals, and there is now a risk for our pets when they have surgery at the veterinary clinic. It is not determined if human contamination from pets is a risk for people.

Screening could be done for MRSA in healthcare facilities, but many do not. If testing proved positive, then patients would have to be isolated, and this would increase patients’ length of stay and the load on the facility by overcrowding and understaffing. It is possible then – this can lead to more contact with infected people. Anyone contemplating elective surgery for conditions such as back or neck pain from herniated disc and degenerative disc should investigate other treatment options that are nonsurgical – surgery is not your only option- as MRSA is a common threat in hospitals.