askthedoctor
MRSA Infection
Perhaps you’ve heard about MRSA infecting children at a day
care, residents of a nursing home, or members of a sports team.
Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., explains what it’s all about.
B
acteria are everywhere — in our lesion might be in an area with a small cut
environment and our bodies. Most or with hair follicles (such as the groin,
bacteria have little effect on us, buttock, or armpit). A MRSA sore can be
and some even are helpful (such as in the painful, and a patient might have a fever.
digestive tract); a few are harmful, causing Occasionally, MRSA infections become
infection and disease. Fortunately, most more severe. This is very rare in otherwise
bacterial infections can be treated with healthy people; it usually occurs to those
antibiotics. However, over time, bacteria who have other diseases or generally frag-
can adapt to antibiotics; their cellular and ile health. Pneumonia, septicemia, bone
chemical processes can change so antibi- infections, and other problems can occur.
More Widespread
otics have less effect. If you think you have a MRSA infec-
Than You Thought
Staphylococcus aureus has been a com- tion, see your health care provider for
a73 About 12 million health mon bacterium for decades. It frequently accurate diagnosis. Treatment often
care visits each year are
colonizes the skin, nose, and other parts of includes lancing a lesion to remove pus.
prompted by staph infec-
tions; about half of these
the body and only sometimes causes illness. Antibiotics might be prescribed. It is criti-
are infections caused by
For years, infections caused by Staphylo- cal to keep a wound caused by a MRSA
MRSA organisms.
coccus aureus could be treated easily with infection covered with a light, dry dress-
penicillin-related drugs such as methicil- ing to avoid transmitting infection to oth-
lin or oxacillin. However, over time, some ers. Impeccable personal hygiene also is
organisms developed resistance to peni- essential. Hand washing is a must after
cillin-based antibiotics. In the U.S., these touching a MRSA wound or dressing,
resistant organisms fi rst were identifi ed in after going to the restroom, before eating,
1968. They are called MRSA, for methicil- before and after athletic activities, and at
lin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These other times throughout the day.
infections can be treated successfully with Even if you don’t have a MRSA infection,
other classes of antibiotics. remember that many organisms are spread
Today, MRSA infections are fairly com- by skin-to-skin (and skin-to-environment-
mon community-acquired infections. They to-skin) contact. Make good hygienic prac-
can spread from person to person and also tices a routine part of your life to prevent
can be acquired from environmental sur- MRSA and other infections and to main-
faces that have been contaminated. The tain good health. MO
pus and general area of infected skin teem
with bacteria and spread infection.
— Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, USPHS-Ret.,
MRSA infections usually are limited
D.O., M.A., is vice president, Health Sciences,
to the skin — a patient might have a red,
Battelle Memorial Institute, Arlington, Va. Find
more health and wellness resources at www
swollen, often pus-fi lled sore that could
.moaa.org/wellness. For submission information,
look like an insect bite. The pimple-like see page 18.
5 0 M I L I T A R Y O F F I C E R M A R C H 2 0 0 9 PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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50ar_AskTheDoctor.indd 50 11/30/09 6:52:37 PM/30/09 6:52:37 PM
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