Manage Your Risk: MRSA Infections

--MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus.

--ORSA stands for Oxacillin Resistant Staph Aureus.

--It is a bacterial infection discovered in 1961.

--Some strains of staph are now resistant to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, and oxacillin and other related antibiotics.

--MRSA infections are much tougher to treat.

--MRSA and ORSA are constantly adapting to overcome new antibiotics.

Usually this infection starts out as a pimple, boil, or something that looks like a spider bite. It could also look like a mild skin infections, rash, or small red bumps. These can quickly turn into abscesses that need to be drained. The real danger is that these staph infections can become life threatening if they reach the bloodstream, bones, joints, lungs, heart valves. This is why every kind of skin wound should be given attention immediately.

Approximately 1% of us are "colonized" with staph germs. 25 to 30% of us currently have staph bacteria in our noses.

Staph can be found anywhere on your skin but tends to like the moister areas such as the inside of your nose. Usually this is not a big problem. The problem occurs when there is a way in provided for the Staph to enter into the body. This can happen in the following examples:

--Skin that is broken, cut, scraped, and so dried out that it is cracking.

--People who use antibiotics frequently.

--People with the condition called Cellullitis.

--People with compromised immune systems.

--People who have bug bites or other trauma to the skin.

--People with a history of eczema or other skin problems.

--Health care workers.

--Children who are still in diapers.

--People who are in nursing homes, in hospitals, or health care centers.

--Some people will contract this even though they seem to have no risk factors.

--People who digest what is caked in their noses.

It is important to do all you can to prevent staph bacteria from reaching your bloodstream where it can spread throughout your body.

So, what can you do to decrease your risk of MRSA/ORSA? Your first line of defense with any infection is to keep your skin in tip-top condition.

--Avoid sunburn by using sunscreen.

--You need to shower BEFORE you enter a public swimming pool so as not to spread an infection to others. Likewise, you need to shower AFTER swimming in a public swimming pool to stop the spread from others. Always shower before and after with a good tea tree oil based or other bacteria killing soap or shower gel.

--While all cuts, scrapes, and broken skin can not be avoided you can give them a good wash, apply antibiotic ointment and bandages to all. Do this right away.

--Apply moisturizer to skin after showering or bathing to keep your skin from becoming dry. It will be less likely to crack or tear if there is plenty of moisture in it.

--Bug bites can be prevented by using insect repellent. Please use the ones that keep the bugs away but that are not toxic to you.

--Pimples and ingrown hairs can turn into nasty MRSA infections. These require special care. Be sure to apply antibiotic ointment/cream or tea tree oil to affected areas.

In addition reduce your staph infection risk by:

--Washing your hands frequently.

--Use hand sanitizer frequently when away from home. Caution: This can be drying to skin.

--Avoid people who have visible draining sores. OR if you are a health care worker wash your hands before and after dressing open sores.

--Never use the same towels and washcloths for other family members.

--Showers are to be encouraged over baths.

In addition to preventing MRSA, if you already suspect you may have this GET TO YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY! Your physician is trained with the latest medical breakthroughs to deal with this. This not a do-it-yourself project. Follow your doctors instructions.