About Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Infection
The cause of MRSA infection is antibiotic resistance. MRSA is resistant to methicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics due to the production of a protein called PBP2a, which alters the target site of these antibiotics. This causes beta-lactam antibiotics to not work against the Staphylococcus bacteria.
Non-modifiable risk factors of MRSA infection cannot be changed or controlled. This includes:
- HIV infection: People with HIV are more likely to have MRSA on their skin or in their body and to develop infections from it.
Modifiable risk factors of MRSA infection can be influenced or changed. These include:
- Hospitalization: Being hospitalized increases the risk of MRSA infection due to exposure to healthcare settings where MRSA is prevalent.
- Surgery: Surgical procedures can introduce MRSA into the body, increasing the risk of infection.
- Long-term care facilities: Residing in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, can increase the risk of MRSA transmission.
- Dialysis: Patients undergoing dialysis are at higher risk of MRSA infection due to frequent contact with healthcare providers and medical devices.
- Antibiotic use: Overuse or misuse of antibiotics can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA.
- Close contact with infected individuals: Sharing personal items or having close contact with someone who has an active MRSA infection increases the risk of transmission.
- Presence of medical devices: The presence of medical devices like central vascular catheters (tubes placed into a vein), orthopedic implants, prosthetic joints, pacemakers, or defibrillators can increase the risk of MRSA.
It's important to note that these risk factors can vary depending on the specific circumstances and individual health status. It's always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and guidance.
The most common early symptoms of MRSA infection include:
- Small bump on the skin: MRSA infection may start as a small, red, and painful bump that resembles a spider bite or pimple.
Other common symptoms that may occur with later stages, progression, or higher severity of MRSA infection include:
- Skin infections: MRSA can cause more extensive skin infections, such as boils, abscesses (pockets of pus), or cellulitis. These infections may be accompanied by redness, warmth, swelling, and pus-filled lesions.
- Fever: In severe cases or when the infection spreads to other parts of the body, fever may develop.
- Chest pain and difficulty breathing: MRSA can cause pneumonia, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
- Joint pain and swelling: In some cases, MRSA infection can lead to joint infections, causing pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint.
- Bone infections: Rarely, MRSA can lead to osteomyelitis (bone infection), which can cause deep pain in the affected bone and limit mobility.
It's important to note that these symptoms can vary depending on the location and severity of the infection. Prompt medical attention is crucial if you suspect a MRSA infection.
To diagnose MRSA infection, the following examinations, tests, and procedures are commonly performed after the healthcare provider asks about symptoms and medical history and performs an initial physical examination.
- Nasal swab: A sample is taken from the inside of the nose to check for MRSA colonization, meaning the bacteria are living in the body without causing an infection.
- Rectal swab: A sample is collected from the rectum to screen for resistant gut bacteria.
- Microbiology procedures: Basic microbiology procedures are performed to isolate and identify MRSA.
- Disk diffusion method: A test that uses antibiotic disks to see if bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics, helping detect MRSA.
- Vitek 2 system: This automated system can identify MRSA and conduct antibiotic susceptibility testing.
- MRSA-screen latex agglutination test: This test helps detect MRSA by checking if the bacteria cause particles to clump together (agglutination).
- Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR): This test looks for specific MRSA genes, such as mecA and lukSF, to confirm the presence of the bacteria.
- High-resolution melting analysis (HRM): This test is used with PCR to identify different types of MRSA strains.
- Phenotypic characterization methods: These tests look at how MRSA behaves, including disc diffusion with antibiotics like cefoxitin or oxacillin, using mannitol salt agar with oxacillin, and the D test. These methods can help detect MRSA based on its traits.
- Genotypic AST methods: Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs), DNA microarrays, and DNA chips can rapidly identify MRSA without the need for culture.
Based on initial findings or individual factors, additional examinations, tests, and procedures may include:
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing: Testing different antibiotics against the MRSA strain to determine which ones are effective.
- Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound): Checks for MRSA related complications, like heart valve infections (endocarditis)
- CT (computed tomography) scans, and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans: Assess the extent of infection and potential damage to organs or tissues.
It's important to consult your healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and assessment of the stage or severity of MRSA infection.
The primary goal of treatment is to eradicate the MRSA bacteria from the body, preventing further spread and complications. To achieve this treatment goal, healthcare professionals may recommend the following:
- Medication: Antibiotics are commonly used to treat MRSA infections. However, the choice of antibiotics may depend on the severity of the infection and antibiotic resistance patterns. It is important to take antibiotics as prescribed and complete the full course of treatment. It is important to note that people colonized with MRSA can sometimes be treated with antibiotics to remove the bacteria (a process called decolonization).
- Therapies: Phage therapy, which utilizes bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria), is being explored as a potential treatment option for MRSA infections. This therapy aims to target and destroy the MRSA bacteria.
- Removing infected vascular catheters or infected prosthetic joints may be necessary to eliminate the source of MRSA infection
- Self-care and health behavior changes: Practicing good hygiene, such as regular handwashing, keeping wounds clean and covered, and avoiding close contact with infected individuals, can help prevent the spread of MRSA infections. Patients with MRSA colonization or infection are placed in isolation rooms in healthcare facilities to prevent spread of infection.
It's important to note that specific treatment recommendations may vary depending on individual circumstances. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial for personalized advice and guidance.
Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for side effect information.