MRSA, an acronym from medical term Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in short called ‘mursa’, is a superbug bacterium that is resistant to anti-biotic. Staphylococcus is a group of bacteria, commonly known as Staph, which can cause a multitude of diseases.
In 1951, methicillin, an anti-biotic closely related to penicillin was introduced to cure the Staphylococcus and other bacterial infections. However around two years later Staphylococcus aureus bacteria which became isolated was resistant to methicillin, which as a result was termed as Methicillin – resistant. Due to the same fact, MRSA shows resistance to many anti-biotics, hence the seriousness of the situation caused by this bacterial infection.
Basic symptoms include fever, chills, low blood pressure, weakness and mental deterioration; specially while they are being treated with anti-biotic. Some examples of infected people include pus containing areas in hair follicles, pus collected underneath the skin, large abscesses with pus draining and pus in blisters on the skin. Infections under the skin or fatty tissues producing pus, may show red spots which may have been caused due to MRSA.
To avoid MRSA infection it is important not make direct contact with skin, clothing or any other item that may have come into contact with an MRSA patient. This may not seem possible often as there is no direct way of identifying MRSA patients and most likely there are MRSA carriers who are not aware of it themselves.
The best way to prevent oneself from being exposed to MRSA is by practicing good hygiene. Washing hands with soap after personal contact or visit to the toilet, wearing gloves when in contact with an MRSA patient and washing clothes separately are some of the ways to prevent from exposing oneself. Use of Antiseptic solutions or wipes at home, gym or any public place is also a good practice and these can be easily bought at any store in town.
If you have a wound in your body or a breakage of skin, carefully close the wound with bandage or other means to prevent the skin from getting exposed. Pregnant women should consult their doctors to get tested for MRSA or for treatment. However, it is found that infants are not transmitting through breastfeeding.
