Sharing a towel – it could make you sick
How do you catch MRSA and become colonized?
Where do the bacteria colonies live in our body?
How widespread is it?
How likely is it that you will become ill?
How can you be decolonized?
Read on for the answers
How do you catch MRSA?
MRSA Colonization is the phrase used to describe those who have the bacteria on or in their bodies but have not yet suffered an infection. Infected can happen within minutes if they have a wound or existing skin break. You can however carry the bacteria for years and not become infected . (1 in 3 people have the easier to treat SA part of MRSA on their skin anyway) Colonization can take place through something as mundane as sharing a towel.
Staph aureus (SA) bacteria live on the skin. Drug resistant strains are often detected in hospitals and are found on the skin of about 1% of the population. (Hospital staff, vet personnel and care home residents colonization can be higher – between 4-15% of these populations are thought to be MRSA carriers without active infection. This is a conservative estimate)
How do you catch MRSA in the community
Community strains of MRSA often infect otherwise healthy people. These infection clusters are based around tight knit social groups living in close proximity. These include: needle injecting drug users, military staff, prison inmates and warders, students in residence halls, children in day care, those involved in or patronising the sex industry, promiscous heterosexuals and homosexuals and people involved in contact sports. The bacteria leaks out from those groups and eventually infiltrates all aspects of a society.
How do you catch MRSA in hospital
People who contract MRSA in hospital can have bacteria transferred into their wound because of nursing or surgical proceedures. Hand hygiene is vital as the hand can be the transport that brings the bacteria to the wound area. MRSA is also airborne and may be found in dust or dead skin residues or in the nasal emissions when a person sneezes.
Colonization can in the groin area, under the arms and often in the nose. It can also set up camp in the throat or the intestine. Doctors seek to decolonize people before an operation to help prevent infection of a wound. This will usually involve washing with a special soap and treatment with a nasal cream. Because MRSA is so common in some places doctors may not give the nasal treatment to those with simple skin infections. This is because of resistance patterns with respect to the nasal cream mupirocin. Overuse or unfinished courses of treatment will make the drug inefective and create problems when trying to eradicate bacteria prior to an operation.
What is MRSA?
Is MRSA different from MERSA?
Is MRSA just a hospital infection?
Is there an MRSA incubation period?
MRSA Treatment – A Simple Guide
Someone I know has MRSA – Should I be worried?
Will sex mean my partner gets it?
Will I die because of MRSA?
Why do I keep getting reinfected?
Can I catch MRSA from skin contact?
How do you catch MRSA?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
1 in 3 people are staph carriers and as many as 1 in 10 are carriers of the related mrsa bacteria. Many people and animals carry it temporarily. So it could have been carried into your house but then again it may not have been.
Hibiclens is often used to decolonize the skin but you will need a prescription for the nasal cream that is sued to clear the nose of MRSA, where it often hides. For 9 people and animals this will be very expensive as you will also need to have a test to clarify whether you are nasal carriers at all. Many carriers do not develop active infections.
What a lot of people do is guard the high risk areas. They clean all high touch areas in the home such as door handles and light switches. They have the Hibiclens baths and they have daily hand washing routines, especially after visits from possible carriers.
The risk from your friends is real but quite low.
Dave
mrsainfection.net
My friends 2 year old was diagnosed with mrsa infection I dont know how long the child has been infected & I wanted to know if the parents being at my house could have transported the virus even if they were not infected? I have a 3 year old & 1 year old & want to prevent them from being infected. Also I have a few dogs & wanted to know if they can transport the virus or become infected? If so how can I decolonize the virus? I wanna prevent anyone here from getting it & dont mind if I have to clean everything but I would rather not clean for nothing or clean & have my dogs walk it around the hous & my bed.lol Plus theres 9 people living here counting the 2 kids im stressing out please help. Thanks
There is a chance that you may have become a carrier of MRSA via your hands. But it is only a chance. It might never make you ill. But if you have other cuts, wounds, grazes or pimples that become red and inflamed seek medical care. Even then it will probably clear up in a few days. Your mum is vulnerable because this condition has taken advantage of an existing wound and vulnerable health
Dave
mrsainfection.net
the doctors just dianosied my mom who is ill from a stage 4 bedsore my mom has mrsa. i had no idea she had it until they ran the test. i know i was arround my mom in the hospital can i get it and what are the sighn to watch for