Mrsa Infection

Are you concerned that you may be re-infected with Staph or MRSA?

Are you worried that your treatments may stop working? What do you do if that happens? What if your doctor runs out of options on how to treat you?

If you’ve ever had to deal or are dealing with the reoccurrence of Staph or MRSA infections, then it’s safe to say that you’re most likely tired and frustrated already.

If you’ve done everything you can and the infections still keep coming back, you would eventually start to feel hopeless about ever getting rid of them.

Sadly, the healthcare system doesn’t help much especially when you consider the fact that it is one of the places you are most likely going to get infected.

Then, it is not all doctors that are experienced enough or properly equipped to treat Staph or MRSA. You may be lucky enough to find doctors that can treat you or better still, give you a specialized care that is tailored to suit you.

In fact, you might even find a doctor who is experienced with natural treatments, which would go a long way to aid your treatment regimen.

Unfortunately, this is not the case because a lot of doctors have are not so experienced when it comes to treating antibiotic resistant Staph or MRSA infections. Not only that, it’s not easy to get personalized care.

So when doctors have to deal with recurrent infections, most of them simply recommend more antibiotics and hope that it works. Most of them really can’t do much more than that and this is what they tell most MRSA patients.

It’s really sad that MRSA or Staph patients don’t have access to valuable alternative options from their doctors.

You will find that there are many reasons doctors don’t recommend integrative and natural medicine. Not just that, they are not really encouraged to use alternative treatment solutions.

Thankfully, there are some alternative healthcare solutions available. Quite a few doctors are now breaking out of the restrictions set by the healthcare system to offer newer and better options to their patients.

These kinds of treatments are what you need to deal with Staph or MRSA infections that are recurrent. These treatments also come with instructions on specific steps you can take to break this terrible and hopefully get rid of the infections totally.

Answers And Solutions

 You should know that you’re not alone in this. Many have gone through this and have successfully broken that cycle of recurrent infections using the information we provide on this site.

This article is to help you understand why you keep having recurrent MRSA and Staph infections. It will also provide you with more information on getting the best healthcare options.

For more information, you can click on any of the links available on this site.

 

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a special type of Staph. Both MRSA and staph are serious bacterial infection that may be life-threatening.

MRSA and Staph have similar symptoms but with a laboratory test, you can actually differentiate between staph infections.

A laboratory diagnosis will not just tell if an infection is MRSA or staph, it will also confirm if you are infected or not.

The following are some obvious signs of MRSA and Staph:

1. Bumps, small lumps or blisters
2. Inflamed Bulges, or tenderness of the skin
3. The head of the bumps have a white or yellowish pus
4. Common on any part of the body from the face to arms, legs buttocks etc.

General Signs of MRSA and Staph Skin Infections

Here are some common symptoms and signs of MRSA and Staph infections.

 Itching: MRSA and Staph are characterized by lumps and rashes that are very itchy. Sometimes you feel as if something is crawling underneath your skin.

The itching is irresistible. As you scratch that part, the lumps reddens and sometimes erupts into deep sores that could lead to secondary infection.

 Abscess: one of the major symptoms of MRSA and Staph is the appearance of pus-filled abscesses that are deeply situated underneath the skin.

Most times you notice something like a collection of liquid moving under your skin when you move it with your fingers.

Don’t try to drain the liquid yourself because it could become a deeper infection.

 Boil: a boil is a more shallow type of abscess; they are usually close to the epidermis or outer covering of the skin. Boils are also like bumps but they are filled with pus.

In some instances, the boil could be the accumulation of more than one boil thereby forming a large lump known as carbuncle.

Just like abscesses, boils should not be lanced or drained by you; it may lead to more infections. Just consult your doctor.

 Cellulitis: cellulitis is another type of deep infection on the skin that is characterized with swelling and pains.

Cellulitis infection arises when the bacteria that causes infection gets into your dermis through a cut on the skin. It is a common infection that occurs on the leg, arms, hand and sometimes on the face.

One peculiarity about this infection is that it enlarges and increases in size as the infection grows. Most times doctors may have to measure it to decide if it is growing or not.

 Folliculitis: Folliculitis is deep infection that affects the hair follicle of the skin.

The hair follicle forms a bump that is usually encircled by some portion of inflamed red or pink skin.

The areas that are affected by folliculitis are often characterized by pain and itching.

Impetigo:  Impetigo usually affects children more than adults. They are just like bumps and blisters but they are usually yellowish to red in colour and they erupt effortlessly.

Impetigo is commonly found on the face but they could spread to the other parts of the body. The scabs of impetigo are characterized by dried blood serum.

How to Diagnose MRSA or Staph

The above listed symptoms can actually be used to diagnose Staph or MRSA, but it cannot be used as a confirmatory test.

It is a doctor that can confirm if a patient has MRSA or Staph, after a proper test has been done.

These signs can only serve as a guide but it cannot replace the diagnosis by a professional.

If you wish to use the signs and symptoms, it is important you know that MRSA and Staph are usually wrongly diagnosed or mistaken as spider bites.

They have the same signs and symptoms with recluse spider bite.

 Site of Staph Infection

Staph and MRSA infection can occur on any part of the body especially, the armpits, groin, feet, face, legs, buttocks and areas that you shave.

 Differences between Staph and MRSA Symptoms

MRSA also known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylociccus aureus is a type of staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to Methicillin antibiotic drugs.

Methicillin antibiotic is a by-product of penicillin family.

MRSA and Staph have many characteristics or symptoms in common.  But the major distinguishing factor between them is that MRSA bacteria are resistant to many types of antibiotics that would normally work on general Staph bacteria.

Aside from all the above mentioned signs, it is also possible you have developed MRSA if :

• You have used antibiotics repeatedly within short intervals with no improvement.
• The infection on your skin is spreading rapidly
• You are a carrier of MRSA bacteria on your body or nose.
• There is no positive outcome or improvement after you have taken antibiotics for 3 days.
• You have previously been diagnosed of MRSA infection.

Whatever signs you observe, it is pertinent you visit a Doctor who recommends you for a test. This test confirms the infection, and makes it easier for you to know what to treat.

Advance Cases of MRSA infection

Often times, the infections of Staph and MRSA are majorly restricted to the skin if treated properly and quickly.

Nevertheless, in some advance/severe cases, the infection could spread into your bloodstream and from there affect your internal organs.

At such times, the following signs maybe observe:

• Chills / cold
• Tiredness
• Fever
• Rashes
• Muscle pain
• Inability to breathe properly
• Acute pains
• Headache
• Vomiting

Whenever you observe any or some of these signs or symptom, it is very important you visit a medical doctor as quickly as possible. This is because most of this signs are common with other Staphs or MRSA that affect people internally.

The following are some serious internal Staphs or MRSA

Endocarditis – these are infections peculiar to the heart, it can result to the failure of the heart.

Staphylococcal pneumonia – these are characterized by the formation of abscesses in the lungs

Pneumonia – these are caused by Staph or MRSA infections

Staphylococcal sepsis – this is a serious infection that is in the bloodstream. It spreads round the circulatory system and can lead to the failure of the system and this can result in death.

Osteomyelitis – this is an infection that affects the bones and can cause inflammation.

In conclusion, MRSA and Staph can affect people of any class and age (from children to adults).

These infections are dangerous and highly contagious. In communities that does not have good health care facilities, it spreads rapidly.

So it is important you visit a Doctor as soon as you see any of the symptoms mentioned above for proper check-up and treatment.

Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are both from the same species of bacteria but MRSA is a particular strain that causes infections in different body parts.

It is more difficult to treat than most of the strains of Staph majorly because of its resistance to most antibiotics.

The major differences between Staph and MRSA can be seen in the kinds of antibiotics used and how the infection is controlled.

This article will show you a list of similarities and significant difference because they determine the kind of treatment to be used.

Not only that, they would go a long way in determining how effective the chosen treatment would be and how long it takes for the patient to recover.

Similarities

Both MRSA and Staph have very similar symptoms but MRSA tends to be more dangerous, life threatening and more invasive than Staph. Some of the similar symptoms include boils, sores, skin bumps, pimples and abscesses.

MRSA, on the other hand can cause more severe skin infections. It can also contaminate surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.

5. Both MRSA and Staph look identical in pictures or when comparing them. This means you would have to run a test to be sure which one you have.
6. They are both contagious and can easily be transmitted from one person to another or to pets, or through the air or from contaminated surfaces.
7. There are certain basic treatment options that can well for both Staph and MRSA. They both also respond well to most natural and alternative therapies, which is a good thing.
8. Both MRSA and Staph are from the same bacteria species but as mentioned earlier, MRSA tends to be more dangerous than Staph.

Differences

 The major differences between Staph and MRSA are as follows.

1.The major difference between them lies in the antibiotics treatments. If you are considering antibiotics for treatment, you need to know that MRSA is more resistant to most common drugs than Staph is.

MRSA may also lead to spending more money and more time in the hospital than Staph.

2. MRSA is not really as common as Staph. An average of 30% of the humans carry the Staph bacteria while an average of 1-5% are MRSA carriers either on their skin and/or inside their noses or throats without being aware of it.

3. You can find Staph bacteria almost anywhere since they are naturally part of our environment. MRSA, on the other hand, is mostly found in healthcare centers although it has be spreading faster to the community in the last 10 years or thereabout.                 

Getting rid of MRSA is relatively more difficult than killing Staph, especially on certain surfaces. For instance, if you are using disinfectants like silver-based products, the kill time for MRSA may be 2 or 3 times more than it is for Staph.

 

 Staph infection also known as staphylococcus aureus is one of the major causes of infertility and many other health problems.

If Staph is not diagnosed and treated timely or properly, it can become a serious danger to the infected person. It would find its way deeper into the body and subsequently affecting the bones, heart, joints and eventually the blood.

It’s true that many strains of Staph are treatable with antibiotics, unfortunately some are resistant to antibiotics and this group is now more common that it was before.

In the light of this, it is crucial to treat even the mildest Staph infection once you notice it. Not only that, you must ensure that you use the most appropriate treatment for the specific strain you are infected with.

Staph bacteria are quite strong and extremely resistant. They can also thrive in any environment whether hot, cold or harsh. Presently, research shows that only about 10% of Staph infections are treatable with Penicillin and other drugs.

Unfortunately, if the Staph bacteria can find its way into the blood, it can lead to Sepsis. Sepsis is a dangerous state that occurs when the body’s response to an infection causes injury to the tissues and organs.

Sepsis manifests itself as fever, increased heart rate, increased breathing rate, and confusion and can eventually lead to septic shock.

Just imagine how deadly it can get if you don’t deal with the Staph bacteria on time.

What Is Staphylococcus

 Staphylococcus bacteria are the cause of Staph infections. Staphylococcus is gotten from the Greek words staphyle, which means bunches of grapes; and kokkos, which means berry.

Staphylococcus looks like a circular, cluster of bacteria under the microscope. Staph doesn’t normally cause problems. According to research an average of 30% of the world’s healthy adults carry Staph in the noses or on their skins without any issues.

In fact, it has been found that about 25% of hospital personnel are carriers of Staph and they are not necessarily conscious of it.

MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a particular strain of Staph that causes infections in different body parts. MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin.

MRSA is commonly called a “superbug” mainly due to its antibiotic-resistant characteristics and it can be found in hospitals, other healthcare centers, sports locker rooms, prisons and community centers.

MRSA is a lethal strain of Staph and it is getting more and more difficult to treat with just antibiotics. Unfortunately, MRSA can be found in many healthcare institutions, and many other places.

This calls for every health worker all over the world to be watchful and adequately prepared to deal with these dangerous bacteria.

Staph infection usually starts with a minor skin infection with symptoms like boils, abscesses, cellulitis, impetigo, painful lumps, etc. Other symptoms tend to cause infertility. This includes:

1. Hydrosalpinx
2. Abnormal growth in breast tissue
3. Lowered sperm count
4. Difficulty becoming pregnant
5. Skin eruptions and pus discharge
6. Itching in the body

Risk Factors for Staph Infection and MRSA

Here are some of the risk factors of contracting a staph of MRSA infection:

1. Having weakened immune systems
2. Hiv/aids patients
3. Diabetic patients
4. Cancer patients
5. People with kidney failure
6. People with respiratory illnesses
7. Incisions from surgical operations
8. Using devices such as catheters, feeding tubes, or breathing Intubation
9. Recently or currently hospitalized patients
10. People with skin injuries including sports people
11. People involved in contact sports or those prone to any kind of skin-on-skin contact
12. People suffering from food poisoning and other digestive problems

Staph Infection Symptoms and Long Terms Adverse effects

 As mentioned earlier, if the Staph infection is not treated early and properly, it could lead to more problems like blisters, abscesses, discharges, testicular disorders, low sperm count, infertility, pus-filled blisters, burns, painful swellings and redness, Scalded Skin Syndrome, hydrocele, hydrosalpinx, skin disease and eventually death.

Staph Infection Diagnosis

 Staph is actually a normal part of the environment but it can go wrong in certain cases and cause infections. In such cases, you need to do a culture test of the affected area, like the nose. This is to determine the exact cause of the problem.

Once you suspect that there is an infection, see a doctor immediately for treatment. The culture test is to confirm what strain of Staph is causing the infection. Knowing this helps to know the right treatment needed and then initiate in order to kill the bacteria.

Staph infections and infertility

 MRSA is highly lethal and can cause infertility in men if not treated early and appropriately. For instance, MRSA could find their way into the testis, epididymis and prostate, which in turn causes scar tissue, low sperm count or production and other sexual problems.

In women, MRSA or other Staph infections can lead to hydrosalpinx, where the Fallopian tubes get filled up with fluid, which in turn damages the fallopian tubes and closes them up, thereby causing eventual infertility.

In men, MRSA or Staph infections can cause hormonal imbalances, low sperm count, low quality of sperm, testicle blockage, reproductive system blockage, varicocele, testicle veins enlargement; hypospadias, where an opening of the urethra forms on the base of the penis and finally sexual dysfunction.

Medical Drugs & Treatments Used for Staph Infections

 Most Staph treatment generally involves antibiotics, then the infected areas are drained and cleaned. In certain cases, the infections are removed surgically.

Unfortunately, Staph bacteria are highly resistant, which means the treatment may not be successful and reoccurrence is always possible and inevitable.

There has been an increase in the use of antibiotics in recent years, so many top medical institutions are doing everything they can to warning people about the drug-resistant MRSA and Staph bacteria.

In the light of this, fighting the antibiotic-resistant bacteria with natural treatments seems to have become a better option, especially because antibiotics tend to fail when used for certain stronger infections.

 What should I do about staph infections?

 Presently, many Staph and MRSA treatments are unable to deal with the main causes of the infections; neither do they treat the whole body. This actually increases the chances of reoccurrence.

Unfortunately, this leads to more pain and anguish that could have been avoided. If you find out that you have Staph or MRSA infection or if you’ve been dealing with recurrent infections, then you need to find out what natural herbal treatment options are available to help you deal with the infections once and for all.

If you’re the bacteria in your body becomes resistant to antibiotics, there are definitely herbal treatments that would work. These treatments factor in the whole body and kill off the bacteria in a way that they never recur in your body again.

 

A MRSA urinary tract infection (MRSA UTI) occurs when MRSA bacteria somehow gets into the urethra and finally into the bladder where urine is stored.

For men, this may also affect the prostate. In certain case, the infection has been known to spread further from the bladder into the ureter and the kidneys but this is not so common.

Most cases of MRSA bladder infections start from the urethra and moves upward but in some cases, the infections spread into the kidneys or bladder from other body locations.

This can happen when bloodstream infections moves MRSA from one location of the body to another.

Note: It is also possible to get a Staph UTI. Staph aureus is the non-or-less antibiotic resistant Staphyloccocus bacteria but they usually respond better to antibiotics treatment. So the information in this article applies to both MRSA UTI and Staph UTI.

How do you get a MRSA urine infection?

 Most UTI’s are triggered by E. coli bacteria, which starts from the intestines but MRSA seems to have become a major cause of bladder infections.

This is mainly because MRSA colonization is growing rapidly and people with active infections usually get boils or breakout areas in their groin or bottoms. This transfers the bacteria to the urethra.

There have also been cases where bladder infections occur after lower abdominal surgeries. However, MRSA UTIs occur more in people that have had a urinary catheter. For instance, the elderly who have bladder control issues may be infected.

About 1-10% of the population have MRSA bacteria their skin without being aware of it or without it leading to an infection. MRSA can survive in warm, moist body areas like the nose, armpits and groin area.

MRSA can spread easily through the hands, which is why you need to have good hygiene prevent or minimize the spread of MRSA. This is quite important when you are using the bathroom so that you don’t spread it to your groin or urethra areas.

Yes, catheters are the major source of spreading MRSA into the urethra but MRSA UTIs can also occur when infected people don’t wash their hands before using the bathroom.

If UTIs are not addressed on time, they can spread into the kidneys and bloodstream, thereby causing lethal infections.

UTI risk factors and symptoms

 Some of the risk factors for MRSA UTIs are:

1. Hospitalization
2. Using Catheter
3. Being elderly
4. Staying in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities for a long period of time
5. Habitual use of antibiotic

Symptoms can include the following:

1. Throbbing hot or burning sensation when you pee
2. Peeing repeatedly and still feeling like going, even after your bladder is empty
3. Experiencing lower abdomen or pelvic pain, uneasiness or pressure
4. Experiencing Lower back pain
5. Urinary incontinence, i.e. involuntary urine leakage
6. Having bloody or cloudy urine
7. Bouts of fever, chills or nausea, sometimes with more severe or complex infections

Please note that most elderly people may not show any of these symptoms even though they tend to have frequent UTI infections.

Are UTI’s contagious? Precautions and prevention tips

Anyone with MRSA in their urine should be considered contagious. Remember that MRSA is contagious and can spread merely by a simple touch. Once they are INSIDE the body, especially through skin cuts or wounds, infection is inevitable.

Simply put, if urine with MRSA bacteria gets on an open wound, skin infection is definitely possible. Using the bathroom without properly washing your hands and then touching others will spread the bacteria to them and likely cause infection.

Precautions if you’re infected: You need to maintain good hygiene. In fact, you may need to wear gloves in certain situations to minimize or avoid spreading MRSA.

For instance, you may need to use gloves when peeing or handling other people’s urine (for medical staff), when using the bathroom and also when using catheters.

Make sure your toilets, bathrooms, handles and sink areas are always clean. Don’t forget to regularly wash your hands. Most importantly, try to avoid sex during an active infection, so as not to transfer to your partner.

If someone else is infected: The first thing is to always maintain a good hygiene. Always use gloves when assisting with catheters, urinals, etc. Remember to wash your hands after attending to infected people or touching surfaces or other objects that they may have been contaminated.

General prevention: If you are a carrier, always wash your hands BEFORE using the bathroom so that you don’t transfer the bacteria to your urethra. If you don’t, you may give yourself a bladder infection.

Don’t forget to wash your hands IMMEDIATELY AFTER a bathroom run. Also do this if you find yourself with someone who has MRSA infection or UTI.

How do you know if you have MRSA in your urine?

To check if there is MRSA in your urine, let your doctor run a urine test know if your symptoms are consistent with MRSA or any other infection.

Urinalysis: This is done to check your urine color and clarity. You may need a microscopic evaluation with it so as to check for bacteria and/or red and white blood cell counts. Urinalysis alone would not confirm if you have MRSA.

Urine Culture and Sensitivity: This is the surest way to confirm whether you have been infected. A urine culture test will show the actual bacteria causing the infection.

Do a sensitivity test alongside the urine culture test to determine the right antibiotic treatment that would best suit your MRSA strain.

Sadly, many doctors or health worker prescribe antibiotic treatments simply based on symptoms. Unfortunately, this will only maximize the chances of the MRSA becoming even more resistant to antibiotics. For your own sake, make sure you do the right tests.

 

Are you wondering what a carrier is? Are you worried about getting rid of MRSA? Do you wonder if you will always be a carrier?

MRSA is fast becoming a major issue worldwide. It not only causes agonizing skin sores and blisters, but it also causes internal illnesses such as pneumonia.

The truth is an average person is exposed to these infectious bacteria, way more than you can imagine, but not everyone is infected by the exposure.

In some people, you will find the MRSA living inside the nose and on the skin but without any symptoms or infection. These people are referred to as “MRSA carriers“.

MRSA Carriers may likely never get infected but they can spread MRSA to other people who are more prone to become infected.

Here are some frequently asked questions and facts about MRSA that most doctors don’t even know.

MRSA and Staph carriers: Symptoms, infection transfer, testing and more

There are people who are simply Staph infection carriers. MRSA is a type of Staph bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics. You can still treat Staph more easily since it causes a less threatening infection.

What is a carrier? Carriers have living MRSA bacteria on or inside their bodies.

 A carrier is someone who carries MRSA or Staph bacteria but might not necessarily be aware of it especially if they don’t get infected.

An average of 30% of the humans carry the Staph bacteria while an average of 1-5% are MRSA carriers. It could be on their skin and/or inside their noses or throats. The worst part is, they might not be conscious of it.

Have you ever heard a doctor say to someone ‘you are “colonized” with the bacteria’? It means the person is a carrier. MRSA colonization is just another phrase for being a carrier.

MRSA carriers can easily transmit the bacteria to others who may eventually become infected.

If you are a carrier, will you get an infection?

 You may not necessarily be infected. The fact that you are a carrier the bacteria either on your skin or in your nose, does not automatically mean you being infected.

Unfortunately, you run a higher risk of becoming infected if you are a carrier than if you are not. Many things can increase your chances of being infected, like surgery or skin punctures, but again, this still does not really mean you will be infected.

Other factors that may increase your chances of being infected are age, stress; medical conditions such as diabetes; your infections history; amount and route of exposure and low immune system.

If you are a carrier, do you have an increased chance of getting MRSA?

Yes, you do. A study on Clinical Infectious Diseases shows that being a MRSA carrier increases your chances of being infected and dying. The research shows that about 25% of MRSA carriers of more than one year eventually become infected.

About 84% of such infections needed hospitalization while some of them resulted in death. The authors however warned that the data they presented may not be a full representation of all carriers in general because their study was based on medical center patients.

Another study on infectious diseases shows that persistent carriers run a greater risk of being of infected and dying.

Unfortunately, since certain MRSA infections can be life threatening, some specific groups of people are in more danger, such as the elderly, the young, and those with weak immune system.

In the light of this, more emphasis is put on creating procedures for decolonization and finding ways to remove the bacteria from the body.

Keep reading for information on prevention and treatment methods.

If you’re a carrier, can you infect someone else?

Yes, you can definitely transmit the bacteria to other people, some of which would likely be infected. It’s also possible for them not to get infected and they also may not carry the bacteria.

As mentioned earlier, there are lots of risk factors to consider aside from the bacteria exposure.

Medical practitioners tend to understate the dangers of being a carrier or of being around carriers. Unfortunately, carriers can transmit the disease to unsuspecting others. It has also been documented that MRSA carriers can spread the bacteria into the air.

According to research done in Leeds University in 2001, there are potential dangers of catching MRSA in a hospital. The study showed that infected people or those colonized can easily spread the bacteria into the air, which becomes a danger to others around them.

How do you know if you carry MRSA?

The standard method of is doing a bacterial culture test of the patient’s nose. This is done by taking a swab of the inside of the nose, then the lab runs a test to check if MRSA is present.

If a person is a carrier, you will most likely find the bacteria in the nose. If the nose culture test comes our positive, then you are a carrier. If the nose culture test turns out negative, it is possible that you are still a carrier because it’s not just in the nose.

The bacteria also stay in other parts of the bodies aside from the nose. According to some doctors, running a test on the back of the throat will give a more accurate result.

This because the bacteria prefer warm and moist places, such as the nose, throat, armpits and the groin. To be certain, some doctors prefer to test the throat and groin area along with the nose.

What are the symptoms of being a MRSA carrier?

If a carrier is not infected, he or she will not show infection symptoms.

Some of the most obvious symptoms of infection include an infection that looks like a bug or spider bite, skin bumps, pimples, boils and abscesses.

For internal infections, you would have to go to the hospital for check up or tests. The internal infections include pneumonia, septicemia or catheter infections.

How do you become a carrier? What are the risk factors?

The bacteria can easily be picked up by being around infected people; this happens mostly in hospitals, nursing homes and any other healthcare facilities.

Unfortunately, family members can become carriers or become infected by caring for their infected children or parents.

MRSA bacteria are easily transferrable to the skin from surfaces and objects that are contaminated with the bacteria, especially from objects like phones, doorknobs, toys, etc.

Anyone who has had an infection can easily become a carrier. It can also be contracted from the dusty air and other particles.

MRSA Decolonization And Treatments For Carriers

Will you always be a carrier?

It’s a possibility that you would have to live with, even if you have stopped carrying the bacteria. Those who have both been infected and carried the disease before have subsequently tested negative on nose cultures for the bacteria. This can happen for people using either antibiotics or natural treatment methods.

Sadly MRSA and Staph are not so easy to get rid of. These bacteria are able to create biofilm colonies and L-form “stealth bacteria” in order to hide and protect themselves inside the body of their carriers.

Unfortunately, most antibiotics are ineffective against these stealth bacteria. In such cases, the non-antibiotic approaches are more effective. For instance, taking maintenance levels of natural antimicrobial substances such as oregano essential oils and olive leaf herbal supplements can be very helpful.

Using products that destroy the biofilm layers in the body can be helpful and these will help your antibiotics to work better. An example of such products is Manuka honey. It is also very crucial that you strengthening your immune system.

How can you decolonize from MRSA?

Presently, the conventional MRSA decolonization methods available include applying the antibiotic cream mupirocin and swabbing the inside of your nose with it. You can also use antibacterial body wash soap called chlorhexidine as well as oral antibiotics.

According to a research in the Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Journal, an effective decolonization protocol involves using a combination treatment of mupirocin nasal antibiotic, chlorhexidine mouthwash and a daily body wash using chlorhexidine soap.

You can treat intestinal, urinary and vaginal colonization at the same time. If this treatment program fails, you can add oral antibiotics.

The only downside is that antibiotics tend to kill off the good bacteria that protect and support the health. In order to deal with this and other side effects, the methods that work well with the body and minimize antibiotic side effects are recommended.

Complementary treatments like swabbing of the nose with essential oils and properly supporting the immune system can help clear MRSA bacteria from the patient’s nose.

Using Vitamin D is another simple solution. According to a study in the Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Disease, low Vitamin D can increase the risk of MRSA nasal colonization.

Vitamin D works helps to support the immunity, by helping the skin to create antibacterial agents. Sadly, a lot of people are Vitamin D deficient.

Can you totally remove MRSA from your body?

It’s been said often that many people don’t test positive after having been infected and treated. However, I don’t believe that having the mindset of “total elimination” is necessarily appropriate because it could lead to some sort of paranoia

This is because a person may be exposed to it again when in the community or in a hospital or any other healthcare location.

A more appropriate mindset would be to ensure that balance is restored to the protective bacteria in your gut and on your skin. You should also make sure that the body’s natural defense is restored back to health.

This is because this superbug bacteria is practically everywhere today and so it’s crucial to make sure your body is more resistant to them. If you have a strong immune system and your body is in a balanced state, then it would be easier to resist.

A Holistic Approach To Protecting Against Infections

The best way to prevent yourself from being infected is to use a multi-front approach. Although having a good hand and body hygiene is a good idea, it is very important to use treatments that work.

Making sure that your home is clean is also quite crucial. You get the best results by ensuring that your body is naturally resistant to infections.

If you find that you are a carrier or tested positive to an active infection, it is important that you choose and use the best treatments that will support your body without destroying it.

For those who have been infected in the past, make sure you boost your immune system and do everything to maintain your natural resistance.

Hope this article has been helpful in giving you tips about how to stop MRSA.

Staph and MRSA which is known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, are common skin infection. They can affect people of any age and class.

These infections are difficult to treat, they are dangerous and they are highly contagious.

They spread like wild fire in communities that have poor health care infrastructures.

Difference between Staph and MRSA

Staphs and MRSA have often been misdiagnosed by medical practitioners. This has been because of the striking similarities that exist between their symptom and that of spider bite infection.

MRSA is a special type of Staph bacteria; many of their symptoms are the same. But with a laboratory test, you can actually differentiate between a staph infection, MRSA infection and even a spider bite infection.

A laboratory diagnosis will not just tell if an infection is MRSA or staph, it will also help to confirm if you actually have the infection or not.

 MRSA and Spider bite

Aside from the fact that MRSA and staph infection look alike, MRSA infection also have a look that is similar to the infection caused by a spider bite – the brown recluse spider.

A Study was carried out by Tom Frank, an associate professor of family and community medicine at the University of Arkansas.

From his study, he diagnosed a lot of patients that thought they only had a recluse spider bite. But to his surprise, more than 70% of the patients actually had MRSA infection.

 The Best Time to See Your Doctor

If you do self – prescription and take the wrong antibiotics, you have a very high chance to develop antibiotic resistant infection.

These infections are usually characterized with blisters, boils, abscesses and bumps that are filled with pus.

After some time, yellowish-white pus drains out of the boil, bumps or abscesses on its own.

It is often advisable that you don’t lance or incise or apply pressure to these boils yourself. This is because you may end up causing more damage to yourself than good.

The best thing to do when you notice any infection that refuses to go after 3 days is to see your Doctor.

If it spreads, or you have symptoms like fever, pains, reactions, chills, see your Doctor immediately without hesitation.

Any abuse of antibiotics either by overusing or misusing can cause antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Be sure to stick to the prescription you were given.

Ensure you do a laboratory test before taking any antibiotics.

Although, antibiotics is not recommended for all kinds of infection but it is used for some other kinds of infections.

Finally, speak with your doctor once you get such symptoms to know what is actually wrong.

If antibiotics are required, consider the use of Natural remedies alone or better still, use natural remedies together with antibiotics.

Don’t self-medicate! Don’t endanger your life or that of your loved one; always ensure a well-timed and effective treatment from a professional. Don’t’ joke with your health.

 

MRSA is a transmittable bacterial infection that can be transferred to other people either through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated objects and surfaces. MRSA can also be transmitted through air.

Unfortunately, coming in contact with people who have active Staph or MRSA infections is more dangerous because they are more contagious. It is important to know that MRSA carriers who are not infected can still transfer it to others who may eventually become infected.

It is a known fact that most MRSA infections come from healthcare centers but community MRSA infections are spreading faster in location where children, teens and adults spend most of their time. Sadly, in recent times, even pets are not exempted from these infections.

With the way MRSA is spreading within the U.S. and in other countries, an average person is likely more exposed to it than we may realize. Unfortunately, with MRSA becoming resistant to many antibiotics, it now makes it one of the most dangerous infections of all time.

In the light of this, it is important to understand the dangers of getting MRSA; know what treatment options are available and the safest prevention methods.

How is MRSA transmitted by people? Who gets MRSA?

MRSA contagious, there is no doubt about that. The worst part is that anyone can get Staph or MRSA infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Sadly, this can happen to anyone from babies to children and to the adults, irrespective of whether they are rich or poor.

The young and elderly run a higher risk of being infected because they don’t usually have strong immune systems.

On the other hand, it is not all who come in contact with a carrier or someone who has MRSA that will get it too.

In a community with MRSA, it will be manifested under various kinds of skin infections. The symptoms may include boils, rashes, red pus filled bumps, more severe cellulitis, etc.

 

Is MRSA contagious after every exposure?

Not particularly. Not all who are exposed to MRSA are infected. The bacteria would need to be in the body for it to cause an infection.

There are many risk factors to consider along with your overall immune strength.
Some of the risk factors are age, medical conditions such as diabetes; stress level; amount of exposure; route of exposure such as whether you got the bacteria into an open cut on your body; a history of recurring infections, medications that either lower or strengthen your immune system.

An average of 30% of the people are Staph bacteria carriers, either on their skin and/or inside their nose or throat without even being conscious of it. On the other hand, an average of 1-5% of the people are MRSA carriers). These people are known as “carriers”.

Carriers can transfer the bacteria to others who may subsequently become infected. The signs of skin infection include boils, cellulitis and others mentioned above.

How long does MRSA survive on surfaces?

These bacteria can survive for many weeks on counter tops for, doorknobs, toys, cellphones, furniture, sports equipment, TV remotes, and many others.

As long as the bacteria are living, they can be transmitted to people or pets from any contaminated surface or objects. The lifespan of MRSA depends majorly on the level of temperature and moisture in that environment. The warmer or humid the place is, the longer they will live.

Is MRSA contagious through the air?

Definitely. They can be transmitted through the air on dust and other particles from carriers or those infected. They are quite common on healthcare surfaces like railings, tables and counter tops.

If you are close to infected people, you run a higher risk of being infected, especially if you take care of sick people or you around them more often than necessary.

These bacteria are commonly transmitted through the air in hospitals, nursing homes and in other healthcare centers they are more prevalent in those places.

Research shows that you can reduce the MRSA in the air around you when you diffuse medicinal essential oils in the air. Diffusing medicinal essential oils is one of the simplest methods of preventing airborne transfer of MRSA.

Is MRSA infectious mainly in healthcare facilities?

In hospitals, Healthcare-Associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) is more rampant as it spreads from patient to patient. Since the healthcare centers are filled with sick people in close quarters, those places easily become a major breeding ground for such kinds of infections.

Not only that, there are so many people with low immune systems, open sores, surgical contamination as well as medical staff who have to touch many different patients, thereby allowing the infections to spread faster.

Is MRSA transmissible in the community?

As mentioned earlier, MRSA is transmittable in the community. Before, MRSA was only found in healthcare centers as HA-MRSA; unfortunately, with the increase in hospital infections, more people are bringing MRSA into the community, thereby creating Community-Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).

They are fast becoming such a huge problem in schools, gyms, prisons, on sports teams and other venues in the community. They are infectious wherever you find infected people or carriers.

How is MRSA spread?

MRSA can easily get into the body through the lungs, nose, mouth, open skin, sores, blisters, wounds and surgical sites. They can spread fast through the hands and through certain body fluids.

They can also be carried on the clothing and in the laundry, on household surfaces and other objects. Direct contact with a carrier or an infected person can spread it faster. It can also be transferred from humans to pets and vice versa.

Washing your hands and cleaning your home are important, but not enough

Using most of the common cleaning, washing and disinfecting products don’t usually help with getting rid of MRSA neither will the average standard hygiene and infection control methods destroy MRSA from the atmosphere around you.

If you are battling with habitual infections, using antimicrobial soaps or other common cleaners may likely make your infection worse. Get more information on the right kinds of soaps to use.

Regular cleaning and hygiene products are weak when it comes to getting rid of MRSA. Some of them may even lead to antibiotic resistance, which in turn may lower your immune system.

Any disinfectants that will be effective in dealing with MRSA or Staph aureus will have a definite kill-time for such bacteria. It may seem like a good idea but using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals may eventually stress and cause your defenses to deteriorate over time. This will in turn make it harder to destroy the infections.

Don’t just wash your hands alone, even though that is quite important, but make sure you and your family are protected from the bacteria in the air. Certain medicinal essential oils can help to minimize this threat when dispersed into the air.

Make sure you properly take care of any wound. For instance, cover open wounds to prevent others from being contaminated. Lastly, do everything you can to boost your immune system.

Controlling MRSA on multiple fronts

You can minimize the danger of being infected with MRSA by making sure you and your family are protected multiple fronts.

We cannot overemphasize the need for proper hand washing and good hygiene. Remember to take proper care of scrapes and wounds. Do what you can to reduce bacteria in your laundry and in the whole house.

Keep your pets proper groomed and well kept. Ensure that the air around your is clean.

Finally, make sure you maintain and strengthen your natural defenses. Remember to use alternative treatments that would support and boost your immunity and not drugs that would weaken your immunity.

 

 

Generally, both viral and bacterial infections are spread in the same ways. It could either be airborne or through contact with infected people or objects.

How do skin infections get started?

 Getting Staph or MRSA skin infections can happen in any of the following ways:

1. Contact with people, pets, surfaces or objects that have already been contaminated with MRSA or Staph bacteria. An infected person or Staph or MRSA carrier can easily infect other people.

Now, casual contact with an infected person or object may not necessarily lead to an infection.

2. The bacteria would have to pass through your skin for you to be infected. There is really no infection until the bacteria is inside your body system. This can happen in any of the 3 ways listed below:

• Getting a cut in your skin either through a razor, burn, scrape or needle
• When an existing cut or wound gets contaminated with the bacteria.
• By entering through small openings on the skin such as hair follicles, which can lead to folliculitis.

How do you catch Staph nose infections?

 The nose infections can happen just like the skin infections, either through the hair follicles or any skin scrapes. Sometimes they start after surgery, flu or colds, times when the nasal tissues are likely sore or impaired.

The truth is there is really no concrete information on how nose infections start, but researchers claim that Staph aureus bacteria creates a protein with which they bind themselves to human skin cells.

How do internal infections get started?

When you try to prick or crush skin boils or other skin infections by yourself, you may end up push infections internally. Using unclean catheters or poor hygiene can lead to MRSA urinary tract infections.

Similarly, when you let your wounds get contaminated, it can become an internal infection. Research has shown that most people become internally infected during hospital procedures, which can lead to internal infection of MRSA/Staph bacteria.

• You can get skin infections through contaminated room air or surgical instruments.
• Using contaminated medical implants; metal screws or plates can lead to lethal blood or bone infections.
• You can also get an internal infection from using medical instruments such as ventilators and bladder catheters.

Risk factors: Community, personal and hospitals

One of the easiest places to get infected by Staph or MRSA bacteria are medical or healthcare centers. In fact, it’s the number one place.

Unfortunately, crowded community centers and public places are fast becoming major sources of these infections.

MRSA is a strain of Staph infection and so you can get the infections through the same means but MRSA is more lethal since it is resistant to most antibiotics. This makes it a more difficult strain to treat.

Community and public risks

As mentioned earlier, MRSA and other supposed “superbugs” started majorly in hospitals but now the community and public centers are fast becoming the areas of risk.

Since these 2 bacteria come mostly from people, any crowded area with too many people touching or using the same objects and surfaces can be considered a major base for all sorts of bacteria, including MRSA and Staph.

The most common places for MRSA and Staph in the community are:

1. Public transportation (buses, taxi cabs and airplanes)
2. Prisons
3. Gyms
4. Day care facilities, schools and college campuses
5. Military barracks
6. Shopping centers
7. Pools, hot tubs and even the beach sand and surrounding fresh or salt water
8. Amusement parks
9. Homeless shelters

Common community infection types

The skin infections caused by the Staph and MRSA in community are manifested in the following ways:

• Abscesses, cellulitis and boils from both bacteria.
• Sinus infections, ear or eye infections from MRSA.
• Some skin infections find their way inside the body and become life threatening.
• Painful sores inside the nose

Personal activity risks

There are many activities, risk factors and conditions that can increase the chances exposure to Staph or MRSA.

There are also some activities or conditions that can help you take the right precaution to protect yourself, especially in areas that are considered high risk for MRSA or Staph.

Activities that can increase the chances of exposure

1. Sharing of clothes or sports equipment
2. Sharing of private items like razors or towels
3. Having sexual intercourse with an infected person
4. Treating Staph infections that are resistant to antibiotics will increase your risk of getting MRSA
5. Close contact while caring for infected family members or friends
6. Contact with infected household pets
7. Pricking your skin with needles or intravenous drug use
8. Getting Tattoos
9. Having a poor body hygiene
10. Playing contact sports either with a professional team or in schools

Sharing sports equipment and playing contact sports is a major risk factor. In recent times, the news have shown many cases of Staph and MRSA outbreaks inside NBA, NFL and other major sports teams; even high school and college teams are not left out.

Conditions that can make you more prone to infection 

1. Being a carrier of MRSA or Staph bacteria
2. Having skin injuries or history of previous skin infections
3. Lack of healthy diet
4. Weak immune system caused by other illnesses or diseases like HIV, Cancer, stress or insomnia
5. Diabetes and obesity
6. Using drugs that suppress the immune system as in the case of organ transplant patients or any other medications that renders you weak against the infections
7. Babies, toddlers and the elderly are usually defenseless against the bacteria

Hospital and healthcare risks

Hospitals and other healthcare centers are still the major breeding grounds for these bacteria. It is very easy to catch these infections in the hospitals because most of the superbugs were created in the hospitals.

Going to the hospital as a patient or visiting patients remains the fastest way to be exposed to these infections. Other healthcare centers and diagnostic centers are also key places to easily get infected.

Here are some of the fastest ways to catch MRSA and Staph in healthcare establishments.

1. Using contaminated medical instruments and devices such as metal or silicone implants can lead to both internal and skin infections
2. Using catheters can cause bladder infections
3. Pic lines or IV needles can lead to blood infections or other internal infections
4. Needle punctures from vaccinations or injections can give you skin or internal infection
5. Poorly maintained MRI scanning units can cause skin infections
6. Poorly maintained medical appliances like respirators can lead to lung infections.
7. Incisions from surgical procedures can lead to infections if not properly take care of
8. You can also get infected from using contaminated surgical implants such artificial knees
9. The airborne MRSA is also said to cause skin colonization, infection or pneumonia.
10. If you share a room with a MRSA carrier in the hospital or with someone with an active MRSA infection, you are likely going to be infected

Warning about shared hospital rooms

Most hospitals do not separate infected patients from those who are not infected. This increases the chances of exposure to these bacterial infections. In fact, many hospitals don’t warn patients that their roommate is infected.

This is sad and unethical considering that they are putting the non-infected patients in danger by leaving them exposed to infection.

Hospitals need to have proper hygiene practices and also proved steps necessary to control MRSA in the air. This will help reduce the risk of being infected.

Reducing your risk of infection

You don’t need to let the fear of being infected keep you from going out or relating with people or even doing the things that you love doing.

You just need to be more aware of what activities can lead to more exposure to MRSA or Staph and how infection can occur. Once you are properly informed, then you can take the necessary precautions to minimize your chances of being infected.

Wash your hands properly and regularly. Maintaining a good hygiene helps a lot. Try not to touch your face when you are out until you’ve properly washed your hands.

Staph and MRSA thrive in humid and moist places like the nose; so only touch your nose with clean hands. Having a hand sanitizer with you helps a lot, especially when you don’t have access to soap and water.

Try to shower before and after being in certain crowded places like the club, pubs, beach, sports centers or gym. This will help to minimize the presence of bacteria on your body, which you may have picked up from touching people or sharing equipment.

FAQ’s about catching MRSA

 Is it possible to catch MRSA in the air, or can I catch it from home surfaces? Yes, you can. They are easily transferred from contaminated surfaces and objects. If you have an infected person in your home, then the air and surfaces are most likely contaminated already.

Can I catch MRSA from a friend? Casual exposure may not necessarily lead to an infection. It is ok to be concerned about yourself and your family, especially when you find out that your friend is a carrier or has been infected but it doesn’t guaranty infection.

Can I get MRSA from my pet? Yes, it is possible although pets usually get it from their owners or someone close to the family. Pets are not normally carriers unless they have been infected by people. This is not really common but it happens.

Can I give MRSA to my partner during intercourse? Since MRSA and Staph thrive mostly in the moist and warm body parts like the armpits, nose and groin area, then it is possible to transfer through sexual intercourse. It is a big risk, especially for the uninfected person.

 

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