National MRSA Education Initiative

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have launched a national campaign to educate the public about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a potentially dangerous form of staph bacteria that is widely resistant to antibiotics and can cause chronic skin infections. You can become infected with MRSA through direct contact with an infected person or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors that have touched infected skin. Some individuals with MRSA can have infection which is limited to wounds, urine, or other specific body fluids or cavities.

According to the CDC, the signs and symptoms of MRSA include skin that is:

• red
• swollen
• painful
• warm to the touch
• full of pus or other drainage
• accompanied by a fever

The CDC recommends that any person with a rash accompanied by a fever should see their medical provider immediately. If you or a family member experiences such symptoms, simply cover the affected area with a clean bandage and seek medical attention promptly.

According to the CDC, it is estimated that Americans visit the doctor more than 12 million times per year to address potential skin infections, many of which are caused by MRSA. And, although MRSA can affect anyone, children 0-18 years old and African-Americans of all ages are at particular risk.

Treatment for MRSA (as outlined on the CDC website) "may include having a healthcare professional drain the infection and, in some cases, prescribe an antibiotic. Do not attempt to drain the infection yourself – doing so could worsen or spread it to others. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses (even if the infection is getting better), unless your healthcare professional tells you to stop taking it".

In terms of protecting yourself and your family from MRSA infection, the CDC recommends keeping cuts and scrapes clean, encouraging good hygiene and hand washing, and discouraging the sharing of personal items such as towels and razors.

Specific concerns have arisen pertaining to MRSA infection in schools, among athletes, and in other environments such as healthcare facilities. The CDC has provided for such concerns by creating online fact sheets to address these specific areas:

MRSA infection and athletes
MRSA infection in schools
MRSA in the Environment
Healthcare-Associated MRSA
Community-Associated MRSA

If you have specific concerns about MRSA or would like more information, please visit the CDC's MRSA website, call your medical provider, or call Keith Carlson, the Public Health Nurse for the town of Amherst, at 413-259-3077.