Methacillian Resistance Staphacoccus Aurus (mrsa)
Running head: METHACILLIAN RESISTANCE STAPHACOCCUS AURUS
Methacillian Resistance Staphacoccus Aurus
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Methacillian Resistance Staphacoccus Aurus
Pathophysiology
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics called beta-lactams (CDC, 2010). MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. S. aureus is a common type of bacteria that normally live on the skin and sometimes in the nasal passages of healthy people. (UMMC, 2009). MRSA infections are grouped into two common types, healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Healthcare-associated (HA-MRSA) infections occur in people who have recently been in hospitals or other health-care facilities. Community-associated (CA-MRSA) occur in otherwise healthy people that have not recently been in a health-care facility (UMMC, 2009).
Signs and Symptoms
In the community, most CA-MRSA infections are skin infections that may appear as pustules or boils which often are red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. They often first look like spider bites or bumps that are red, swollen, and painful. These skin infections commonly occur at sites of visible skin trauma, such as cuts and abrasions, and areas of the body covered by hair (e.g., back of neck, groin, buttock, armpit, beard area of men) (CDC, 2010). These can quickly turn into deep, painful 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 (Mayo, 2008). HA-MRSA in healthcare settings usually causes more severe and potentially life-threatening infections, such as bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, or pneumonia (CDC, 2010). The bacteria can cause infection when they enter the body through a cut, sore, catheter, or breathing tube. The infection can be minor and local (for example, a pimple), or more serious (involving the heart, lung, blood, or bone) (UMMC, 2009). Whether contracted in the community or healthcare setting, the common symptoms of skin staph infections are drainage of pus or fluids from the site, fever, skin abscess, and warmth around the infected area. More serious staph infections may include chest pain, chills, cough, fatigue, fever, malaise, headache, muscle aches, rash, and shortness of breath (UMMC, 2009).
Treatments
Treatment of MRSA infections will