February Health Tip

Common Myths, Get the Facts: Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (CA-MRSA)

By:  Nancy Halaby and Licet Martell, Pharm.D. Candidates
Preceptor: Nancy Borja, Pharm.D.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, often called "staph.” Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. If you have staph on your skin or in your nose but aren't sick, you are said to be "colonized" but not infected with MRSA. Healthy people can be colonized with MRSA and have no ill effects. However, they can pass the germ to others. This infection is resistant to common antibiotics, making it difficult to treat.  A MRSA infection can be fatal.

Staph bacteria are generally harmless unless they enter the body through a cut or other wound, and even then they often cause only minor skin problems in healthy people. Staph infections generally start as a small red bump that resembles pimples, boils, or spider bites.  These can quickly turn into painful abscesses that require draining.

In the 1990s, a type of MRSA called community-acquired MRSA, or CA-MRSA began showing up in the community.  Although MRSA is on the rise, it can be preventable and treatable.  The following are facts to the myths that have been circulating:

Myth:  MRSA can only be contracted in the hospital

Fact: MRSA can also be contracted in the community, although CA-MRSA is a different strain than hospital-acquired (HA)-MRSA

Myth:  I am infected if I have MRSA germs on my body

Fact:  Many people have MRSA germs, however, only a few get infected

Myth:  MRSA infections can no longer be treated with antibiotics

Fact:  There are several antibiotics that treat MRSA, though there may be resistance to some of them

Myth: This is an infection that you can catch by coming into contact with someone that has it

Fact:  The bacteria can only get in from a break or cut in the skin either through direct contact or through contact with surfaces contaminated with the bacteria

Myth:  Schools should be closed if a student is found with MRSA

Fact:  Most health agencies don’t advise this because this is not an airborne infection

Myth:  Having an open wound automatically means that it is infected with MRSA

Fact:  Although having an open wound increases your chances of acquiring MRSA, there are many other bacteria that can contribute to skin infections.  Just having an open wound doesn’t mean that it is infected; consider a wound infectious if there is any purulent drainage (pus) from the wound, specially if accompanied by fever, redness, or tenderness

Myth:  All MRSA infections require antibiotic treatment

Fact:  Many CA-MRSA infections, while caused by bacteria, may not require antibiotic treatment:  good wound care, and surgical draining of an abscess could be sufficient to clear the infection

Myth:  Once the wound looks better, I can stop taking the antibiotic

Fact:  If an antibiotic is prescribed, it should be taken for the entire course of treatment even if the wound looks better

Myth:  Only people with weakened immune system are at risk for contracting CA-MRSA

Fact:  There are many risk factors for CA-MRSA, particularly:  young age, participating in contact sports, sharing towels or other athletic equipment, living in crowded or unsanitary conditions, association with health care workers, as well as people with weakened immune systems

Myth:  There is nothing to be done in preventing MRSA infections

Fact:  Regular hand washing is the best preventative measure.  Keeping skin lesions covered with a clean, dry bandage at all times, and not sharing potentially contaminated personal articles are also ways to prevent MRSA infections

REFERENCES

1. MRSA infection.  Accessed 1/27/08.
   
   
2. Hawkes M, Barton M, Conly J, Nicolle L, Barry C, Ford-Jones EL.  Community-associated MRSA:  Superbug at our doorstep.  CMAJ. 2007;176:54-56.
   
   
3. Community-associated (CAMRSA)/Staph Infections: A Guideline for Athletic Departments. California Department of Public Health, 2007. Accessed 1/28/08.
   
   
4. Strategies for Clinical Management of MRSA in the Community. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006. Accessed 01/27/08.