In this Article

• What is methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?
• What are the signs and symptoms of MRSA infection?
• How is MRSA infection transmitted?
• How is MRSA diagnosed?
• How can people prevent MRSA infection?
• Can people die from MRSA infections?
• If MRSA is so resistant to many antibiotics, how is it treated or cured?
• Where are other MRSA information sources?
• Pictures of MRSA - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: MRSA - Describe Your Experience
• MRSA Infection Glossary
• MRSA Infection Index

If MRSA is so resistant to many antibiotics, how is it treated or cured?

Fortunately, most MRSA still can be treated by certain specific antibiotics (for example, vancomycin (Vancocin), linezolid (Zyvox), and others). For MRSA carriers, mupirocin antibiotic cream can potentially eliminate MRSA from mucous membrane colonization. A good medical practice is to determine, by microbiological techniques done in a lab, which antibiotic(s) can kill the MRSA and use it alone or, more often, in combination with additional antibiotics to treat the infected patient. Since resistance can change quickly, antibiotic treatments may need to change also. Many people think they are "cured" after a few antibiotic doses and stop taking the medicine. This is a bad decision because the MRSA may still be viable in or on the person and reinfect the person. Also, the surviving MRSA may be exposed to low antibiotic doses when the medicine is stopped too soon; this low dose may allow MRSA enough time to become resistant to the medicine. Consequently, MRSA patients (in fact, all patients) treated with appropriate antibiotics should take the entire course of the antibiotic as directed by their doctor. A note of caution is that, in the last few years, there are reports that a new strain of MRSA has evolved that is resistant to vancomycin (VRSA or vancomycin resistant S. aureus) and other antibiotics. Currently, VRSA is not widespread, but it could be the next "superbug."

Where are other MRSA information sources?

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/full/99/11/7687

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20061201/tips/18.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no06/04-0831.htm

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=45809

MRSA - Describe Your Experience

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