What You Need to Know about MRSA

Do you remember when the answer to almost any infection was to treat it with penicillin? Well, my friend, those days are long gone. Today there are a number of infections that have become resistant to even the most trusted antibiotics. For instance, have you heard of MRSA? Keep reading for more information you need to know about this deadly infection.

Do you remember when the answer to almost any infection was to treat it with penicillin? When I was a child, my mom used to get penicillin from the veterinarian to cure everything from strep throat to a cut from a rusty piece of barbed wire. Perhaps your mom had a similar approach – well, maybe not exactly like that!

Ah, weren’t those the days?

Well, my friend, those days are long gone. Today there are a number of infections that have become resistant to even the most trusted antibiotics. And if you have school-aged children, or have paid attention to the news lately, you’re most likely familiar with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA for short. MRSA is a staph infection that is resistant to many forms of antibiotic treatment (including penicillin) and has become widespread in schools and community centers.

How do you know if you have MRSA?
MRSA infections appear as painful red pustules or boils on the skin, generally in areas where the skin has undergone trauma, such as an abrasion or a cut. It can also appear around the hair follicles anywhere on the body.

How is MRSA spread?
Spread most often through skin-to-skin contact, particularly through the hands, MRSA can also be transmitted through shared items such as towels or razors that were used by an infected individual. A recent report byThe New England Journal of Medicine reports that pets and people can even pass MRSA to each other through touching or by your pet licking your skin. 

Who is affected by MRSA?
MRSA is typically seen in people who have compromised immune systems or patients who have invasive medical devices inserted through the skin. 43% of all skin infections in the U.S. are the result of one strain of MRSA.

Approximately 94,000 people a year will be diagnosed with a serious case of MRSA, and the infection is associated with approximately 19,000 deaths annually. Of these cases, about 86% are healthcare-associated (HA-MRSA, meaning that the infection was acquired within the confines of a hospital) and 14% are community-associated (CA-MRSA, spread outside of health-care facilities).

How is MRSA treated?
To treat MRSA, intravenous medicine is given in severe cases. But generally speaking, MRSA can be treated with the use of an antibiotic soap on the infected areas. If you have a MRSA infection, cover the area with a clean, dry bandage and change it frequently until the area is healed. Also, clean all of the surfaces that come into contact with your skin.

How can you prevent MRSA?
To prevent the spread of MRSA, wash your hands regularly with soap and water (or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer) and shower or bathe at least once a day. Avoid sharing personal items that come into contact with your skin, including clothing and bed linens. If you work-out at a public gym or fitness center, make sure to wipe down the equipment you use – both before you use it and after. People don’t often think about it, but infections can spread fast and furiously in such establishments.

If you would like to take a more natural approach to treating a MRSA infection, consider these natural supplements:

Garlic. The antibacterial properties of allicin, a component found in garlic, has been shown to cure patients with MRSA-infected wounds in a matter of days, according to research published in the Journal of Biomedical Science.

Goldenseal. This herb is a natural anti-inflammatory that can be ingested or applied to the skin to treat infections.

Cleavers. Another herb with anti-inflammatory properties, cleavers can help reduce swelling in the lymph nodes when taken internally. Externally, cleavers can be made into soothing compresses and placed directly on to skin infections.

Tea Tree Oil. Applied directly to infected skin, tea tree oil has soothing properties and can also speed the duration of a MRSA skin infection.

MRSA is certainly a sign of changing times when it comes to infections and effective treatments. But with this information in your medical back pocket you’ll be better prepared to combat – and even prevent - such infections.