Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureusby Torie Stratton, Jordan Scott, and Megan Pazzelli

Type of Disease

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus is a bacterial infection caused by staph bacteria that has become resistant to most antibiotics normally used to treat ordinary

staph infections. Another name

for this disease is MRSA.

Where MRSA Originated

MRSA originated from the Staph bacteria, and came about due to the overuse of medicines. The Staph bacteria became resistant to penicillin and other treatments, resulting in MRSA.

History of MRSA

The Staph bacterium was discoveredin the 1880s. In the 1940s, treatments for Staph, such as penicillin, were discovered. From that point on, the use of those treatments (and overuse) caused the bacterium’s resistance, resulting in MRSA. The first human cases of MRSA were in 1968.

Symptoms of MRSA

• Cellulitis- infection of the skin and tissues immediately beneath the skin,

usually starting as small red bumps in the skin with some areas

resembling a bruise

• Boils- pus-filled infections of hair follicles

• Abscesses- collections of pus in or under the skin

• Sty- an infection of an oil gland in the eyelid

• Carbuncles- infections larger than an abscess, usually with several

openings to the skin

• Impetigo- a skin infection with pus-filled blisters

• Rash- skin appears to be reddish or have red-colored areas

Transmission of MRSA

MRSA, like all staph bacteria, can be spread through contaminated objects or casual contact. It is normally passed from the hands of

someone who has MRSA. It is not

usually spread through the air. In

healthcare-associated MRSA, it is

normally passed to a person who is

already sick or has a weakened

immune system.

Cures or Treatments for MRSA

MRSA is considered to be treatable even though it is resistant to a lot of antibiotics. Bactrim and vancomycin are the drugs normally used to fight MRSA. But due to MRSA’s resistant nature, there is emerging antibiotic resistance being noticed. But antibiotics

are not always necessary. If the only symptom is a skin boil, doctors can normally just make an incision anddrain it.

MRSA Video

Works Citedhttp://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/methicillin-resistant-staphylococcus-aureus-mrsa-overview

http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/staph/basics.html#ssymp

http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/antimicrobialresistance/examples/mrsa/pages/history.aspx

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mrsa/basics/definition/con-20024479

http://www.medicinenet.com/mrsa_picture_slideshow/article.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/photos/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2542887/figure/f1-jidmm18027/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU7hrtxBWmA