Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) By: Aaron Mohr, Taylor Host, and Kristen Sposetta

Description MRSA-, a bacterium that is highly resistant to methicillin, penicillin, and certain other antibiotics, and may cause infections of the skin, blood, lungs, etc. MRSA is resistant to a class of antibiotics including penicillin, amoxicillin, oxacillin, methicillin, and others. lness/Ask+the+Expert/Flu+Cold+Infections/_MRSA+In fections+Video.htm cases-have-parents-pulling-kids-out-of-school

Continued… Hospital-Acquired (HA)-MRSA -This source of MRSA is typically problematic for the elderly/people with weakened immune systems A study published in 2005 found that nearly 1 percent of all hospital in-patient stays, or 292,045 per year, were associated with MRSA infection Community-Associated (CA)-MRSA-CA-MRSA skin infections are known to spread in crowded settings; in situations where there is close skin-to- skin contact; when personal items such as towels, razors, and sporting equipment is shared; when personal hygiene is compromised; and when health care is limited.

History The bacterium, commonly known as staph, was discovered in the 1880’s The first reported human case of MRSA in the United States came in 1968

Symptoms Chest pain Fatigue Shortness of breath Fever & chills Headache Rash Wounds August 13, 2013 statistics

Transmissions Spread by skin-to-skin contact Can spread anywhere, joints, bones, blood, etc.

Cures/Treatments Draining the wounds Antibiotics For severe infections – doctors may use vancomycin intravenously

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