mrsa?

[Eastender]

Today, in one of the daily papers is an article about MRSA and MSAA. I have been in the Care industry for some time now, however I keep either reading or having different course's on MRSA.  I was lead to believe that this bug lived up your nose, was apperently found on door handles etc etc. Then I was told, this is not how this bug is caught by so called experts in this field.  But today, once again they have done more test, and the bug was found on a telephone, with the quote the bug lives in the throat and ear??? so I do believe I am right? Anyone in the care or nursing industry know any different, can you shed any light on this topic?  thanks

[kempie]

MRSA is a very hardy version of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. As with all "staph" it/they can live harmlessly on many skin surfaces, especially around the nose, mouth, genitals, and rectum. But when the skin is punctured or broken for any reason, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause an infection. As with all external bacteria it can be easily transmitted by contact.

The New York Times recently reported an alarming increase of resistant staph especially outside of medical environments. This quote from The New England Journal of Medicine - ''Close to one-fifth of what used to be a hospital-specific problem is now a community problem."

[silly moo]

MRSA is endemic in the population , but only really causes problems when it enters the blood stream.
In the hospital dept where I work we use gloves for any contact with MRSA positive patients and their beds / bedding.
I think one of the reasons it is so widespread these days is the over use of anti-biotics in the past.
I also feel that it is spread as much by visitors as by staff.

[woofgang]

the bug "lives" in terms of being able to reproduce in moist areas of the skin. And at one time or another, it lives on all of us. Thsi is known as "colonisation" ie we have a colony of the bug on us. On the hand, foot, any othe skinfold, it can easily be removed by thorough washing, but not in the throat, nostril, ear. It remains viable for some time on other surfaces which is how it gets found on telephones, pens, doorhandles etc.

In healthy people, even if a few get into the blood stream, it isn't a big deal, in the same way, colonies in the throat nostril, ear will eventually be dealt with by the natural defences of a healthy body. The problem arises when the body is already dealing with something else (illness, operation) or the body's immune system is not fully developed or compromised (age etcetera)

As to how it became so resistant, favourite theory is that yes, it is due to the injudicious use of antibiotics. BTW when I was a teemager, about 35 years ago, I had tonsillitis and as was usual then, was given penecillin. It didn't clear up and my GP had to increase the dose. When he did this, he remarked that when he first prescribed it during the war, half of the original dose that I was given would deal with a septic appendix in an adult and he wondered then where it would all end.

[woofgang]

here's a good website

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/mrsa.htm