The affected area might be:. These red bumps can quickly turn into deep, painful boils abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also burrow deep into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs. Keep an eye on minor skin problems — pimples, insect bites, cuts and scrapes — especially in children.
If wounds appear infected or are accompanied by a fever, see your doctor. Different varieties of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, commonly called "staph," exist. Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. The bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then they usually cause only minor skin problems in healthy people. MRSA is the result of decades of often unnecessary antibiotic use.
For years, antibiotics have been prescribed for colds, flu and other viral infections that don't respond to these drugs. Even when antibiotics are used appropriately, they contribute to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria because they don't destroy every germ they target.
Bacteria live on an evolutionary fast track, so germs that survive treatment with one antibiotic soon learn to resist others. Because hospital and community strains of MRSA generally occur in different settings, the risk factors for the two strains differ.
MRSA infections can resist the effects of many common antibiotics, so they're more difficult to treat. This can allow the infections to spread and sometimes become life-threatening.
Your visitors may be instructed to avoid touching infected skin and to take other precautions such as wearing gloves or gowns when visiting you. Is there a test for MRSA? You would not usually be tested for MRSA unless you have an active infection. If you have a skin infection, your doctor may take a sample of the area to find out what bacteria is causing your infection. This is called taking a culture.
The lab will then test the bacteria to find out which antibiotic is best for you. If your MRSA infections keep coming back again and again, your doctor may test you and your family members to see if you are carriers. In this case, the doctor would take a culture from the nose or other areas where MRSA can be found. MRSA should always be treated by a doctor. It is important to follow the instructions for treatment that your doctor gives you.
If you have an active MRSA infection, your doctor may choose one or more of the following treatments: Give antibiotics Drain the infection Reduce the amount of staph on your skin and in your nose 1. Give antibiotics MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics so it can be difficult to treat. After the infection is drained, you must keep it covered with a clean, dry bandage, until it heals 3. Reduce the amount of staph on your skin or in your nose This may prevent the spread of MRSA if you have an active infection or if you are a carrier.
Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Take a bath or shower often, be sure to use soap to clean your body while showering or bathing Wash your sheets and towels at least once a week Change your clothes daily and wash them before wearing again Do not share towels, wash cloths, razors, or other personal items If you get a cut or scrape on your skin, clean it with soap and water and then cover it with a bandage Do not touch sores; if you do touch a sore, clean your hands right away Cover any infected sores with a bandage and clean your hands right away after putting on the bandage Wear clothes that cover your bandages and sores, if possible Clean frequently used areas of your home bathrooms, countertops, etc.
You have to rub your hands for at least 20 seconds to get rid of the bacteria. How do I clean my hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer?
Use enough to cover all the surfaces of your hands. Laundry Do I need to be careful when I do laundry? Dirty clothes and bedding can spread MRSA bacteria. When touching your laundry or changing your sheets, hold the dirty laundry away from your body and clothes to prevent bacteria from getting on your clothes Wear disposable gloves to touch laundry that is soiled with body fluids, like drainage from a sore, urine or feces Immediately put the laundry into the washer or into a plastic bag until it can be washed Wash your laundry with warm or hot water, use bleach if possible Dry in a warm or hot dryer and make sure the clothes are completely dry Clean your hands after touching dirty sheets or clothing and before touching clean laundry, even if you have been wearing gloves Throw gloves away after taking them off do not reuse them and clean your hands How often should I change clothes and bedding?
Change your sheets and towels at least once a week Change your clothes daily Do not put dirty clothes or clothes you have just worn back in your closet or drawers until they have been washed Cleaning What about cleaning my house? It is important that you clean daily. Cleaning with a detergent is necessary to remove dirt that can prevent disinfectants from working.
Some disinfectants have a cleaning agent mixed in, check the label to know which product you have. Disinfectants are chemical products that are used to kill germs in healthcare settings.
These products are also sold at grocery and other retail stores and may be helpful when someone has an infected wound. How should I use cleaners and disinfectants? Each cleaner and disinfectant has instructions that tell you important facts: Precautions you should take when applying the product, such as wearing gloves or aprons or making sure you have good ventilation during application.
How to apply the product to a surface. Instructions on how to prepare e. How long you need to leave it wet on the surface to be effective contact time. If the surface needs to be cleaned first and rinsed after using. If the product is safe for the surface.
Each cleaner and disinfectant has instructions for proper use. Laundry Routine laundry procedures, detergents, and laundry additives will all help to make clothes, towels, and linens safe to wear or touch. More about laundry on this website Equipment Shared equipment that comes into direct skin contact such as helmets and protective gear should be cleaned after each use and allowed to dry.
Is it clean? To protect yourself from germs on shared surfaces you can: Use barriers, like a towel or clothing, between your skin and the surface. Shower immediately after activities where you have direct skin contact with people or shared surfaces or equipment, such as after exercising at a health club. Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.
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