Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA): Prevention and Treatment

HealthPrep Staff

Causes

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The most common way methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is spread is through contact with another infected person (skin-to-skin) or from person to object to person. The bacteria are hardy and are capable of surviving in places like countertops, sinks, and door handles for lengthy periods. Hospitals, in particular, are prime breeding grounds as it can be left on bedding and other equipment, so due diligence has to be made for cleaning and disinfecting

Antibiotic Resistance As A Cause

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Some health professionals cite antibiotic resistance as a cause of MRSA. As its name suggests, methicillin is an antibiotic and is a relative of penicillin. Once it could be used successfully against staphylococci bacteria, but a strain of these bacteria became resistant to the antibiotic. Now, the bacteria not only resists methicillin and penicillin but oxacillin and amoxicillin as well. Because these antibiotics are used so often to treat other types of Staph infections, MRSA has become sometimes very difficult to treat. Health professionals believe the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria became resistant because antibiotics have been overused and overprescribed. Though the drugs killed off weaker bacteria, it did not kill stronger bacteria. These stronger bacteria went on to reproduce and are now able to survive the antibiotics in the methicillin family. This is called antibiotic resistance.

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Causes

Antibiotic Resistance As A Cause

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