MRSA… A.K.A… JamesForristal EMT-P Safety Coordinator THE SUPERBUG

Objectives Epidemiology Morbidity and Mortality Where it is found Clinical Presentations Prevention Treatment

Epidemiology Discovered in the UK in 1961 Methicillic-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) a.k.a. “MURSA” Worldwide 2 billion people carry some form of aureus Of the 2 billion 53 million possibly carry MRSA

Epidemiology In the US 95 million carry aureus in their nose Of these 2.5 million carry MRSA

Morbidity and Mortality CDC estimates that the number of MRSA has doubled nationwide 1999 approx. 127,000 up to 2005 approx. 278,000 At the same time the amount of deaths increased from 11,000 to more than 17,000 CDC estimates that MRSA would have been responsible for 94,360 serious infections and associated with 18,650 hospital stay-related deaths in the US in 2005

Morbidity and Mortality Those numbers suggest that MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the US each year than A.I.D.S

Where its found… Most commonly colonizes in the anterior nares (THE NOSE) Also can be found in the Respiratory tract, open wounds, I.V.catheters sites and urinary tract. Also most commonly found in close quarter living spaces as well as hospitals/nursing homes

Clinical presentation Many people that are symptomatic have puss-filled boils and occasionally rashes CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA are more virulent and can cause systemic infection (sepsis) Community associated- MRSA and hospital associated-MRSA Look at history with nursing home patients or ask the RN.

Prevention WASH YOUR HANDS!!! BSI gloves, mask with face shield, gown not a bad idea. Disinfect you and your equipment including your truck. This is one virus that does not need open wound to enter just contact with your skin.

Treatment Abscesses will need to be drained Since MRSA is resistant to most antibiotics there is research being done to find treatment They have found that linezolid, pristinamycin, doxycycline, and clindamycin may be effective.

Questions Will this make you wash your hands???