Essay or Mrsa
MRSA: An evolving “super-bug” epidemic
MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics. In short, antibiotics have been used since the 40's to stop the growth of bacteria. However, the more antibiotics are used, the quicker the bacteria become resistant to it while each year more types of bacteria adapt and become resistant to antibiotics. With MRSA being so resistant to many of the antibiotics, classifying it as a “super-bug”, it makes treatment of skin infections and invasive internal infections much more complicated. This leads to many yearly deaths. In fact, MRSA statistics show that more people die each year from MRSA infections than the AIDS virus.
Etiology: MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is also known as the staph infection. It is also medically known as S. aureus and is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin and sometimes in the nasal passages of healthy people. This S. aureus strain does not respond to some of the antibiotics used to treat staph infections. The bacteria can cause infection when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter, or breathing tube or simply when it comes into contact with the skin. The infection can be as minor as a cut or pimple or it can be more serious when it involves the heart or lungs. However, serious staph infections are more common in people with weak immune systems such as the elderly or those who are already sick and hospitalized. MRSA infections are grouped into two types based on their causative factors. In Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) infections, people who are or have recently been in a hospital or health-care facility are affected. A large percentage of hospital-acquired staph infections are related to MRSA bacteria. On the other hand, Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections occur in people who have not recently been in the hospital within the
MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and is a bacterial infection that is highly resistant to some antibiotics. In short, antibiotics have been used since the 40's to stop the growth of bacteria. However, the more antibiotics are used, the quicker the bacteria become resistant to it while each year more types of bacteria adapt and become resistant to antibiotics. With MRSA being so resistant to many of the antibiotics, classifying it as a “super-bug”, it makes treatment of skin infections and invasive internal infections much more complicated. This leads to many yearly deaths. In fact, MRSA statistics show that more people die each year from MRSA infections than the AIDS virus.
Etiology: MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which is also known as the staph infection. It is also medically known as S. aureus and is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin and sometimes in the nasal passages of healthy people. This S. aureus strain does not respond to some of the antibiotics used to treat staph infections. The bacteria can cause infection when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter, or breathing tube or simply when it comes into contact with the skin. The infection can be as minor as a cut or pimple or it can be more serious when it involves the heart or lungs. However, serious staph infections are more common in people with weak immune systems such as the elderly or those who are already sick and hospitalized. MRSA infections are grouped into two types based on their causative factors. In Healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) infections, people who are or have recently been in a hospital or health-care facility are affected. A large percentage of hospital-acquired staph infections are related to MRSA bacteria. On the other hand, Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections occur in people who have not recently been in the hospital within the
References: Medicinenet- “MRSA Infections”(pgs1 to 6): www.medicinenet.com/mrsa_infection/article.htm Mayo Clinic- “MRSA Infection” (pgs 1 to 9): www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735 3. Beers, M.H. & Berkow, R. (Eds.). (2005). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy (17thed.).Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck and Company.