MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a bacterium group known collectively as “Staph”. This group is notorious for causing a wide range of diseases that begin as an infection. This bacterial infection is particularly worrisome because, as its name suggests, this bacteria group is resistant to certain types of antibiotics such as methicillin and penicillin.
Methicillin (now known as meticillin) was introduced in 1959. It is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that was developed to combat Staph bacteria that were resistant to numerous types of penicillin. This antibiotic has been replaced by other antibiotics such as dicloxacillin and flucloxacillin but the term methicillin-resistant is still being used to describe bacteria that cannot be killed using penicillin.
“Keep surfaces of shared areas clean and disinfected at all times”
MRSA, referred to as the superbug, presents a number of risks and dangers particularly because it is very difficult to cure and requires a long period of intensive treatment. Infections containing this type of bacteria usually involves the skin, tissues and organs, often causing inflammation and sepsis. The best way to cure it is to prevent it and should it be suspected to treat it immediately. Learn how to get rid of it and prevent the spread with these tips.
Cleaners, Sanitizers and Disinfectants
Most cleaners are effective in preventing the spread of MRSA provided they are used correctly (5 Ways To Prevent MRSA In Homes). Cleaners such as soaps and disinfecting detergents, lift dirt and bacteria from the skin and other surfaces. They are best used with water to rinse away organic matter.
Where cleaners are unavailable, sanitizers can be used as a substitute. Note; however, that sanitizers merely reduce the population of bacteria on the surface so germs become generally – but not totally – safe. Sanitizers alone cannot get rid of bacteria and must be combined with other methods of cleaning and sanitizing.
What about Disinfectants
Disinfectants (Does Lysol Kill MRSA?), on the other hand, are effective for killing germs by stunting their growth. When using products, always read the label and follow instructions on usage to ensure their efficacy against germs.
Keeping MRSA Out Of Wounds
MRSA usually enters the body through a cut or opening in the skin, such as a wound. To prevent or keep MRSA under control, wounds should be kept clean, dry and covered in bandages (How to Detect MRSA-Infected Wounds – ehow.com). Bandages must also be changed regularly. To prevent contamination and cross-contamination, wash hands carefully and frequently using soap and water or use an antiseptic gel that contains alcohol. It is also recommended that items with the highest risk of becoming contaminated from wound fluids should be avoided or disposed of carefully.
Avoid sharing items such as:
- Articles of clothing
- Bar soaps
- Bed sheets
Basically anything that can come in direct contact with infected skin. Fabric such as clothing, towels and bedding should be washed and dried thoroughly. A person who has an open wound should try to avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with other individuals in order to prevent transmitting the bacteria.
If MRSA Has Already Entered The Body- Using Antibiotics
Infections caused by MRSA are still treated by antibiotics. The only difference is that the patient will require higher doses administered over a prolonged time period. In some cases, patients may even have to use alternative antibiotics, the kinds that are associated with unpleasant side effects and requiring intravenous administration. The patient must be closely monitored during this period and the course of antibiotics prescribed for the treatment must be completed in order to ensure that the bacteria are either killed or reduced significantly so as to render them harmless.
Another important step on how to get rid of MRSA is to practice care in the use of antibiotics to treat other diseases (Antibiotics: Misuse puts you and others at risk – mayoclinic.com).
One of the reasons why the superbug has evolved to become the deadly organism, it has become this way from overuse and abuse of antibiotics in both humans and animals. A common example is when people use antibiotics to treat a viral infection, or failing to complete a course of treatment. This is not only ineffective (antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses). It also strengthens the ability of the bacteria that occur naturally in the body to resist the drugs. Over time, this resistance can create new communities of organisms that cannot be killed or eliminated by common antibiotics.