This is pretty complicated. It stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and is pretty hard to treat.
MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population (they carry it without knowing it), although most of them aren't "infected".
Garden-variety staph are common bacteria that can live on our bodies. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it. In fact, 25-30% of us have staph bacteria in our noses.
But staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the U.S. Usually, these are minor and don't need special treatment. Less often, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia.
Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph -- like MRSA -- have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now immune to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other antibiotics.
Isolation is essential, to prevent spreading it. other kinds of antibiotics still work. Bactrim and Vancocin (vancomycin) are often the first drugs used. Other options are Cleocin, Levaquin, Cubicin, Targocid, Zyvox, and Synercid. Some of these antibiotics may need to be given intravenously. There is also emerging antibiotic resistance being seen with some of these medications as well.
Antibiotics aren't always necessary. If you have a skin boil, your doctor may just make an incision and drain it.
If you are prescribed antibiotics, follow your health care provider's instructions precisely. Never stop taking your medicine, even if you're feeling better. If you don't take all of your medicine, some of the strongest staph bacteria may survive. These survivors then have the potential to become resistant to the antibiotic. They also could reinfect you or infect someone else.
Certainly people who are immunosuppressed are more at risk. But we are all at risk.
2006-09-29 04:23:11
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answer #1
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answered by Barbara A 2
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MRSA stands for Methicillin ( an experimental or laboratory antibiotic) Resistent Staphylococcus Aureus. Some say The M could stand for Multi. Staph Aureus is a bacillus which was named (Aureus is Latin origin for ear) as it usually inhabits the ear. The bacillus seems to mutate and adapt easily so that it keeps becoming resistent to newly developed antibiotics..This is especially so when antibiotic tablets are not all finished by the patient. Usually carried on the skin, or open wound, and transferred by touch contact with person or object. People with low resistence or frail or run down are more at risk, but the Bacteria has to be around.
2006-09-29 11:27:31
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answer #2
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answered by wendy p 1
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a specific strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance to all penicillins, including methicillin.
Staphylococcus bacteria are extremely common in the environment (and a third of humans world-wide are estimated to carry it on their bodies and are not harmed by it), and is usually not a problem to healthy individuals. Historically, staph infections begin only after the individual has suffered a skin break or open wound. Recently, due to institutional overuse of antibiotics, strains of staphylococcus aureus have developed drug resistance. If an individual has a weak immune response to the bacteria, a MRSA infection can result even with no apparent open wound. The symptoms can range from skin boils to necrotizing fasciitis, popularly known as flesh-eating disease. MRSA infections are typically combatted with vancomycin, however, vancomycin-resistant staphyloccocus has recently appeared.
2006-09-29 11:03:24
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answer #3
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answered by duncan 3
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MRSA is caused by staph that is resistant to methicillin. They can be in the blood, wounds, nose, lungs, urine. Transfer depends on site of infection. Most at risk are elderly, infants, and immunocompromised people like those in the hospital, or those with poor immune systems due to disease. U can do a search on any browser for MRSA and it should give u info.
2006-09-29 11:08:20
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answer #4
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answered by dragonkisses 5
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It's a bacteria. MRSA is the abbreviation of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. As it's name said, it is methicillin(an antibiotic) resistant. Usually staph aureus can be treated with antibiotic methicillin, but this type have mutated/get used to this antibiotic, they develop resistant against it. That what's make it difficult to eradicate.
They r carried in blood. It is usually associated with medical environment ie. hospitals, so people most at risk are patients in the hospital especially those with low immunity.
Anyway, the hospital staff had 'cleaned' everything. It could be rare nowadays.
2006-09-29 11:08:27
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answer #5
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answered by meow 2
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Staphylococcus Aureus - a strain which is Methycillin Resistant. Hence MRSA
2006-09-29 11:04:55
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answer #6
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answered by ? 5
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Staphlococcus aureus. Hospital. Patients from surgery. Wound infections
2006-09-29 13:33:33
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, mostly hospital acquired, at risk are seriuosly ill people, treatable but dealy if not treated appropriately, good luck
2006-09-29 11:03:21
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answer #8
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answered by HK3738 7
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All of the above,although it can be cleared by some antibiotics used in hospitals.
Some healthy people can have it in their noses (carriers) without any harm.
It can develop in post operational wounds and through it,in blood.(septicaemia).
Elderly people are mostly at risk,and contrary to belief,in most cases it is brough to hospitals from outside,by visitors and patients.
2006-09-29 11:11:52
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answer #9
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answered by Julie K 2
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MRSA is carried by about one third of the population. Astounding thought!
2006-09-30 05:33:02
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answer #10
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answered by Flora 2
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