| Did you know that | | | | 4. How widespread is MRSA? |
| "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis" is | | | | Estimates show that roughly 90,000 people die |
| the longest English word? It is an alleged lung | | | | annually in US hospitals, due to infections that |
| disease. Another lengthy term is | | | | bacteria cause. Of that figure, the majority of the |
| methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, which | | | | deaths involve MRSA. During the past 1.5-2.0 |
| you can also refer to as MRSA. If you work in | | | | decades or so, the occurrences of MRSA have |
| the medical field, then you should certainly know | | | | increased dramatically. While it is unknown how |
| about this word. Differing from the first term | | | | many people MRSA typically infects, staph |
| mentioned, MRSA certainly exists. Here are some | | | | bacteria infect about a quarter of the US |
| important questions and answers regarding MRSA: | | | | population, at any given time. |
| 1. What is MRSA? | | | | 5. What causes MRSA to spread? |
| In short, MRSA is a bacterium. However, it is | | | | MRSA is most common in various healthcare |
| more complicated than that. If you are healthy, | | | | facilities, such as health clinics and medical centers. |
| and have MRSA living atop your skin or inside | | | | However, MRSA also occurs in various other |
| your nose, then they create no harm to you. | | | | environments. These include contact contact |
| However, if you undergo surgery, become | | | | sports locations, and prisons. |
| exhausted, or get wounded, then MRSA can | | | | In almost all causes, direct physical contact causes |
| become a threat to your well being. Once MRSA | | | | the transmission of MRSA. Thus, when people |
| enters your body, such as through the skin, it | | | | become in close proximity to people infected with |
| could result in a staphylococcal infection, or "staph" | | | | MRSA, transmission becomes more likely. People |
| infection. | | | | can also acquire MRSA by touching objects that |
| 2. Can doctors use antibiotics to kill MRSA? | | | | are infected with the bacteria. They include: |
| Yes, but the treatments can be pricey and | | | | • clothing |
| challenging. While physicians can prescribe | | | | • sheets |
| antibiotics to treat MRSA, not all of them are | | | | • sports equipment |
| effective. Several types of antibiotics are | | | | • towels |
| ineffective in killing MRSA. For instance, MRSA is | | | | • workout areas |
| resistant to antibiotics that resemble penicillin. | | | | 6. What are MRSA's symptoms? |
| 3. Does MRSA only live in hospitals? | | | | Typically, infections appear on the skin. However, |
| Historically, MRSA has been most problematic in | | | | MRSA becomes more problematic when it enters |
| healthcare environments, such as nursing homes | | | | the bloodstream. The results could result in |
| and hospitals. Healthcare employees have | | | | arthritis, meningitis, pneumonia, etc. |
| attempted to prevent the transmission of the | | | | MRSA is not simply an acronym for a certain |
| bacteria, by taking certain actions. These include | | | | bacteria. Instead, this type of bacteria can result |
| washing their hands frequently; and wearing | | | | in serious health difficulties, and even death. |
| hygienic clothing, such as cheap landau scrubs. | | | | Hospitals must be constantly proactive in prevent |
| However, MRSA have recently appeared more | | | | MRSA, by using methods such as the wearing of |
| frequently in environments outside of healthcare | | | | scrubs. This will help to shorten the life of a germ |
| facilities. | | | | with a long name. |