1. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus by Torie Stratton, Jordan Scott, and Megan Pazzelli

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. History of MRSA The Staph bacterium was discovered in 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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 and drain it.

8. MRSA Video

9. Works Cited http://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