what is M.R.S.A can anyone explain what it is and does?

Answer 1

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a specific strain of the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that has developed antibiotic resistance to all penicillins, including methicillin and other narrow-spectrum β-lactamase-resistant penicillin antibiotics.[1] MRSA was first discovered in the UK in 1961 and is now widespread, particularly in the hospital setting where it is commonly termed a superbug.

MRSA may also be known as oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA) and multiple-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, while non-methicillin resistant strains of S. aureus are sometimes called methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) if an explicit distinction must be made.

Although MRSA has traditionally been seen as a hospital-associated infection, there is currently an epidemic of community-acquired MRSA in the USA. The abbreviations CA-MRSA (community-associated MRSA) and HA-MRSA (hospital-associated MRSA) are now commonly seen in the literature.

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 staphylococcus has recently appeared.

Although Noskin and others report that a patient infected with MRSA is five times more likely to die than other patients; it is not clear that patients who are infected with MRSA have an increased death rate. Wyllie et al. report a death rate of 34 percent within 30 days among patients infected with MRSA, while among MSSA patients the death rate was similar at 27%

Vancomycin and teicoplanin are glycopeptide antibiotics used to treat MRSA infections. Teicoplanin is a structural congener of vancomycin that has a similar activity spectrum but a longer half-life (t½). Both drugs have low oral absorption and must therefore be administered intravenously for systemic infections. One of the problems with vancomycin is not just that its route of administration is inconvenient, but also that it is inferior in terms of its efficacy compared to antistaphylococcal penicillins.

Several new strains of MRSA have been found showing antibiotic resistance even to vancomycin and teicoplanin; those new evolutions of the MRSA bacteria are dubbed vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). Linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, daptomycin, tigecycline are more recent additions to the therapeutic arsenal, generally reserved for severe infections which do not respond to glycopeptides. Less severe infections may be treated by oral agents including: linezolid, rifampicin+fusidic acid, pristinamycin, co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim+sulfamethoxazole), doxycycline, and clindamycin.

Answer 2

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - (MRSA) infection.

It is a type of bacterium commonly found on the skin and/or in the noses of healthy people. Although it is usually harmless at these sites, it may occasionally get into the body (eg through breaks in the skin such as abrasions, cuts, wounds, surgical incisions or indwelling catheters) and cause infections. These infections may be mild (eg pimples or boils) or serious (eg infection of the bloodstream, bones or joints).

The treatment of infections due to Staphylococcus aureus was revolutionised in the 1940s by the introduction of the antibiotic penicillin.

Unfortunately, most strains of Staphylococcus aureus are now resistant to penicillin. This is because Staphylococcus aureus has 'learnt' to make a substance called ß-lactamase (pronounced beta-lactamase), that degrades penicillin, destroying its antibacterial activity.

Some related antibiotics, such as methicillin and flucloxacillin, are not affected by ß-lactamase and can still be used to treat many infections due to ß-lactamase-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Unfortunately, however, certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, have now also become resistant to treatment with methicillin and flucloxacillin.

Although other types of antibiotics can still be used to treat infections caused by MRSA, these alternative drugs are usually not available in tablet form and must be administered through a drip inserted into a vein.

Answer 3

Its a deadly super bug come about by the over and mis-use of antibiotics and spread by the appalling standard of hygiene in our hospitals. I watched a guy admitted to the A & E the other night, within 2 hours he was covered in blisters and suffered cardiac arrest. The A & E did not close and get sterilised. I guess anyone else coming in shared the same facility as he used, at the end of the programme it was announced he never made it. Our local hospital has just closed 4 wards because it is out of control.

Answer 4

MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It is a type of bacterium commonly found on the skin and/or in the noses of healthy people. Although it is usually harmless at these sites, it may occasionally get into the body (eg through breaks in the skin such as abrasions, cuts, wounds, surgical incisions or indwelling catheters) and cause infections. These infections may be mild (eg pimples or boils) or serious (eg infection of the bloodstream, bones or joints).

Answer 5

MRSA (METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS) IS A STRAIN OF NORMAL SKIN BACTERIA THAT IS RESISTANT TO PENICILLIN-BASED ANTIBIOTICS.

STAPH. AUREUS IS A BACTERIA THAT GROWS ON THE SKIN OF NEAR ENOUGH EVERYONE ON THE PLANET AND IT DOES NO HARM TO ANY OF US. DUE TO OVERUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS, THOSE STAPH. AUREUS BACTERIA THAT WHERE SENSITIVE TO PENICILLIN-BASED ANTIBIOTICS WERE KILLED OFF, LEAVING THOSE THAT HAD A NATURAL PROTECTION AGAINST THE ANTIBIOTICS TO SURVIVE AND MULTIPLY.

THE MEDIA HAS A HABIT OF CALLING MRSA A HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION, WHICH IS FOR THE MOST PART, A MISNOMER. MOST OF US PICK UP MRSA OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OR ANY TIME WE VISIT A FRIEND OR RELATIVE IN HOSPITAL. BUT BECAUSE OUR SKIN IS INTACT, WE DON'T DEVELOP AN INFECTION BECAUSE OUR SKIN PROVIDES A BARRIER TO THE BACTERIA.

HOWEVER, WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN HOSPITAL, THEY GO FOR SURGERY, HAVE BLOOD TAKEN, HAVE CANNULAE INSERTED INTO VEINS, AND DUE TO THEIR ILL HEALTH, MAY DEVELOP PRESSURE SORES. THE RESULT OF ALL OF THESE IS THE BREAKING OF THE SKIN, WHICH CREATES AN ENTRY POINT FOR THE MRSA TO GAIN ACCESS INTO PLACES IT SHOULDN'T BE...THIS IS WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTS. HOSPITALS AND CARE WORKERS DO WHAT THEY CAN TO LIMIT THIS BY WASHING HANDS, CLEANING NEEDLE SITES BEFORE TAKING BLOOD, MONITORING THE PATIENT FOR BED SORES OR THEIR OBSERVATIONS CHART AND BLOODWORK FOR SIGNS OF INFECTION. DESPITE THIS, BECAUSE MRSA IS ALRADY RESIDENT ON MOST PEOPLES SKIN, EVEN IF DOCTORS AND NURSES CLEAN THEIR HANDS AND INJECTION SITES, THERE IS STILL THE POTENTIAL FOR BACTERIA TO GROW INTO THE CLEAN AREA THAT WAS CREATED, AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE BODY THROUGH THE PUNCTURE THAT WAS MADE.

IN SHORT, MRSA IS SPREADING BETWEEN EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, ALL OF THE TIME. ITS JUST THAT WHEN PEOPLE GO TO HOSPITAL, PEOPLE ARE AT THEIR WEAKEST, AND THE MRSA IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO DAMAGE EVEN IN SPITE OF ALL THE MEASURES EMPLOYED TO REDUCE ITS OCCURENCE.

Answer 6

methicillin/oxacillin resistent staph aureus. an infection that spreads easily and is difficult to thoroughly get rid of. It came about because of the overuse of antibiotics and patients not completing their full antibiotic dose term. It is now as prevalent in most communities as it is in the health care community.

Answer 7

I think your question is... how did this bug become so resistant to antibiotics. Your question has no backbone when you say it couldn't have existed before the development of antibiotics when you don't effectively describe any hypothesis as to why they couldn't have existed prior to antibiotics. To answer the only question you propose...the simple answer is the difference between micro-evolution, (survival of the fittest, adaptation, etc...) and macro-evolution (the gradual mutation of one species into another species). It is possible this species developed a resistance to antibiotics exactly as you have already described. Thus your answer and a creationist's answer is the same. We have no problem with your explanation of the development of this bug's resistance to antibiotics.

Answer 8

MRSA is Methacillyn Resistant Stapholycoccus Aureus. It a very nasty infection which is resistant to most anti-biotics. It can kill or disable. If you are lucky and survive, you may still end up with some tissue and nerve damage. It's usually spread in hospitals.

Answer 9

it is a medical term means methicillin resistance staphylococcus aurues
point blank it is a bacteria called staph aurues develop resistance to methicillin antibiotic ...so when the patient is treated with the former antibiotic he will not respond

Answer 10

Very simply, its a bacteria which is resistant to many antibiotics. It can kill if it gets into open wounds in vulnerable people (usually the young or the old). People can lose limbs beause of it...its very nasty...;