Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Essay Example
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is an important and common pathogen in humans. It is found in the nose or on the skin of many healthy, asymptomatic persons (i.e., carriers) and can cause infections with clinical manifestations ranging from pustules to sepsis and death. Most transmission occurs through the contaminated hands of a person infected with or carrying S. aureus. MRSA infections frequently are encountered in health-care settings (Lowy, 1998). A common cause of blood-stream infections, pneumonia, endocarditits, skin and soft tissue infections, and bone and joint infections, S. aureus infection is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. S. aureus is well adapted to the human body, capable of spreading from person to person, hiding in intracellular compartments and inducing various forms of human disease. During infection the bacterial cells produce a large variety of virulence factors, among which, for instance, are molecules that interfere with the chemotaxis of neutrophils to the site of infection. Adding to the complexity of the infectious process is the fact that the host also responds with a variety of immunological defenses, sometimes producing a certain degree of resistance to infection. Many healthcare and clinical professionals assume that MSRA is more virulent than its predecessor; however, in control studies, no clear difference has been seen in types of infections, infection severity, and infection-associated mortality caused by MRSA and MSSA (Bradley, 1992). Although not more virulent than MSSA, MRSA infections are significantly more difficult and costly to treat. Treatment generally requires IV antibiotics that are associated with the possibility of increased potential for adverse events compared to those treatable with oral antibiotics and often create the need to move a patient to an acute-care facility. S. aureus has remained among the top three clinically important pathogens
Staphylococcus aureus is an important and common pathogen in humans. It is found in the nose or on the skin of many healthy, asymptomatic persons (i.e., carriers) and can cause infections with clinical manifestations ranging from pustules to sepsis and death. Most transmission occurs through the contaminated hands of a person infected with or carrying S. aureus. MRSA infections frequently are encountered in health-care settings (Lowy, 1998). A common cause of blood-stream infections, pneumonia, endocarditits, skin and soft tissue infections, and bone and joint infections, S. aureus infection is often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. S. aureus is well adapted to the human body, capable of spreading from person to person, hiding in intracellular compartments and inducing various forms of human disease. During infection the bacterial cells produce a large variety of virulence factors, among which, for instance, are molecules that interfere with the chemotaxis of neutrophils to the site of infection. Adding to the complexity of the infectious process is the fact that the host also responds with a variety of immunological defenses, sometimes producing a certain degree of resistance to infection. Many healthcare and clinical professionals assume that MSRA is more virulent than its predecessor; however, in control studies, no clear difference has been seen in types of infections, infection severity, and infection-associated mortality caused by MRSA and MSSA (Bradley, 1992). Although not more virulent than MSSA, MRSA infections are significantly more difficult and costly to treat. Treatment generally requires IV antibiotics that are associated with the possibility of increased potential for adverse events compared to those treatable with oral antibiotics and often create the need to move a patient to an acute-care facility. S. aureus has remained among the top three clinically important pathogens