Mrsa Superbug Symptoms

Recently there has been a lot of media attention paid to MRSA superbug symptoms. MRSA is actually a form of staph, which is quite common. What is different about MRSA is that it is resistant to antibiotics that usually work to kill a staph infection. MRSA stands for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. The methicillin family of drugs that can handle a garden variety staph infection may not be able to handle MRSA. Luckily, there are other drugs like vancomycin which may prove effective.

There are many different strains of MRSA, some of which may be more resistant to treatment than others. There are many symptoms of this type of infection which may affect different parts of the body. In the beginning stages, MRSA infection may resemble pimple, boils or spider bites. The problem comes when these skin lesions develop deep abscesses which allow the bacteria to reach the bloodstream. From the bloodstream, the bacterial infection can spread to the vital organs like the heart and lungs. Symptoms at this point can range dramatically and may include everything from high fever to heart failure.

The key is to catch the infection before it reaches a dangerous level. If you notice an unexplained skin condition, seek medical attention immediately. Your doctor can perform a simple skin test to detect the presence of MRSA.If you are not having symptoms but think you could be a MRSA carrier or are in a high-risk environment, you may want to ask to be screened. Some people are MRSA carriers but don't have any symptoms of infection. High risk groups include healthcare workers, nursing home residents, athletes and those with lowered immune systems.

Recognizing MRSA superbug symptoms is important because if you catch the infection early it can be treated before it gets to a life-threatening level. Common treatment methods for MRSA includes the administration of strong antibiotics such as vancomycin which has been proven effective in most cases. Sometimes the doctor will try to drain the abscessed area before resorting to antibiotic treatment because there have been cases of vancomycin resistant MRSA. Experts agree that prevention is just as important as prompt and proper treatment. Regular handwashing is one way you can prevent the spread of this potentially deadly bacteria.



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MRSA News:
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Researchers Find Four Prognostic Variables as Risk Factors for HA-MRSA Infection in ICU. The researchers concluded that four prognostic variables were found to be risk factors for HA-MRSA infection in ICU: intubation, open ...




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