Bug of the Month: MRSA (“the superbug”)

With all the press about MRSA, the “superbug”, it is important to have the facts and know what to do if you find a skin infection on you or a family member that concerns you. Keep in mind that there are still many antibiotics available to treat MRSA so don’t let the hype scare you. It can be serious but more often then not it is very, very treatable.

Technical Names: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

NickNames: “the superbug”, resistant Staph., Staph.

What it is: a bacterial infection that is resistant to a group of antibiotics.

Typical Ages for Illness: Any

Typical Symptoms: MRSA typically causes a skin infection akin to a very painful pimple or boil but can cause more serious infections sometimes such as bone infections, blood infections or pneumonia, all of which are very rare in otherwise healthy people.

Seasonal Issues: Can occur year roun.

How’s It Spread? By contaminated objects and person to person. The CDC sites “the 5 C’s” as risk factors: Crowding, skin-to-skin Contact, Compromised skin (i.e., cuts or abrasions), Contaminated items and surfaces, and lack of Cleanliness. (see MRSA in schools link below).

Diagnosis:

There is often a high index of suspicion based on the appearance
Culture of the wound/area is the gold standard to diagnosis

Treatment:

incision and drainage of the skin lesion is curative much of the time
antibiotics: orally or intravenous depending on severity and location

Call Your Pediatrician if your child has:

a skin infection that worries you
a skin pimple, red area on skin, or pustule that is large and painful

Prevention:

good hand washing
do not share personal objects such as towels, razors, bandaids
good cleaning of public places such as gyms and hospitals where MRSA tends to live and get spread easily
only use antibioitcs when you absolutely need to

School and After school Activity Issues