Mrsa Staph Infection

Research papers on MRSA staph infection are written for medical health research on diseases.

MRSA, officially Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacterium responsible for a number of different difficult to treat staph infections in human beings. The MRSA staph infection occurs because the bacteria have developed a resistance to standard antibiotics used to treat infections. Most MRSA staph infections occur in hospitals and other health care settings, such as dialysis clinics or nursing homes. This is because patients are vulnerable because of the following:

• Open wounds
• Invasive devices
• Weakened immune systems

MRSA

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria generally colonize in the nostrils, and some otherwise healthy individuals can carry MRSA asymptomatically for weeks or years without knowing. In the case of a staph infection, MRSA progresses substantially within 24 to 48 hours of initial symptoms, and can become resistant to treatment within 72 hours. Symptoms include various skin infections, such as boils, abscesses, impetigo, and cellulitis. More serious necrotizing fasciitis infections are rare, but do occur.

One of the best ways to combat MRSA staph infections, which are becoming common in the community outside of hospitals, is through frequent hand washing. However, some strains of MRSA are developing resistance to disinfections and antiseptics. The most effective means for killing MRSA is to wash hands in running water and use of an anti-microbial cleanser such as Chlorhexidine, which has persistent killing action.