MRSA Are You Colonized or Infected?

Yes I mean you! Yes I have used the word colonized!

What do I mean?

Please remember that I am a layman and I try to separate hype from reality and hope from fear. I do not have to hype it up to sell my book. The press has done my work for me.

MRSA is a bacteria. It can exist quite happily on human or animal skin. It does not hurt on your skin. It just lives quite happily. It can also collect up your nose and live there. If you are healthy then all you will do is pass it on to colonize others. Most doctors think that about 30% of people are colonized in this way, but there may be places where about 100% of people are colonized. The 100% colonization will be in closed communities such as a sports team, or a class at school or the people in the same jail.

So far so good.

MRSA will infect a wound. The majority of cases are in hospital where a medical incision either from an operation or to fit a a catheter gets infected. The remainder are in the community. The result is a painful infection that is sometimes fatal. The treatments normally vary from the use of non-penicillin-based antibiotics, to surgically draining any puss from wounds. In extreme cases amputation of a limb, or limbs, or the cutting away infected tissue and bones can be the only options. The majority of people make a complete recovery from an MRSA infection of a wound.

What do we do to prevent it?

Wash your hands to not pass it on. Use soap dispensers instead of bar soap and throw the whole container away when empty, do not refill it.

Shower regularly especially after sports or the gym or when getting hot and sweaty.

Cover and protect wounds. Do not allow them to become infected. Use an antiseptic wipe when you get a wound. If any wound (even one from a spot, zit or pimple) fails to heal get to the doctor and get it checked out.

Dispose of used dressings (bandages and plasters) quickly and hygienically. Do not just leave them in a heap for someone else to pick up.

What about our pets?

If we have an MRSA colony then we will almost certainly pass it on to our pet.

Make sure they get a regular bath especially if they are hot and sweaty.

Take care of any cuts or scratches and if they are taking time to heal get to the vet. If after one lot of antibiotics the wound is still not healing then ask for an MRSA test before giving the pet antibiotics that cannot work against MRSA.

The final analysis.

MRSA is here and probably here to stay.

Good hygiene is far better than infection.

Take the time to be clean and safe now.

If you visit a hospital and there are instructions on the door to wash your hands now and a pump action dispenser then use it before you go into that ward. You can carry MRSA and pass it on with your lack of hygiene.