A recent article in Emerging Infectious Diseases indicates that there was a sevenfold rise in Community Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(CA-MRSA) in hospitals and other health care facilities from 1999 — 2006. Researchers have noted that a rise in CA-MRSA has added additional pressure to Healthcare settings who are already over burdened with Hospital Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus(HA-MRSA). Infection control policies in healthcare settings need to watch for the threat coming from the outside as much as the containment within.
The study, which analyzed data from more than 300 microbiology labs across the United States, found a sevenfold increase in the proportion of CA-MRSA in outpatients between 1999 and 2006. Researchers suggest that instead of replacing HA-MRSA in healthcare settings, CA-MRSA is adding to the overall presence of MRSA in the hospital population. In other words the increase of MRSA in the healthcare setting is coming with patients from the outside population rather than from an increase in the existing hospital population. The data actually showed a very slight decrease in HA-MRSA during the study period.
Let’s Break It Down — What is Staph?
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) are bacteria. This bacterium is commonly found on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% of the population has this bacterium present but it does not cause an infection. This is called colonization. Staph bacteria can cause infections and in the United States most staph bacteria cause a minor skin infection (such as pimples and boils). These infections can be successfully treated with a course of antibiotics. But staph infections can also be serious such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections and pneumonia. These are fought with powerful antibiotics.
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is staph bacterium that are resistant to antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 1% of the population is colonized with MRSA in the community (show no signs of infection).
Staph infections including MRSA occur most frequently to patients in hospitals and other healthcare settings such as nursing homes and dialysis centers. It is generally associated with people with weakened immune systems. This is commonly known as HA-MRSA. If a person contracts a staph infection including MRSA outside of a hospital or other healthcare setting this is known as CA-MRSA.
How Can I prevent a staph or MRSA infection?
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
- Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
- Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
- Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
What do I do if I think I have a staph or MRSA infection?
See your healthcare provider. Take steps to prevent others from getting infected:
- Cover your wound.
- Keep your hands clean especially after changing a bandage or touching the infected wound.
- Do not share personal items such as towels, washcloths, razors, or clothing.
- Be sure to tell all healthcare personnel that you have a staph or MRSA infection so they can take appropriate precautions.
Implications from this study stress the need for rapid methods to detect MRSA to prevent the spread within healthcare settings. Infection control policies in healthcare settings need to watch for the threat coming from the outside as much as the containment within.
