Why is MRSA getting so much attention?
Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria also can cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia). While 25% to 30% of the population is colonized with staph, approximately 1% is colonized with MRSA. When a MRSA infection is present, commonly used antibiotcis are not effective and the patient will require treatment with other antibiotics such as vancomycin or teicoplanin. These antibiotics are expensive, may be toxic, and have to be given by intravenous infusion. Patients infected with MRSA must therefore be treated in hospital. This is only one of the reasons why considerable effort is made to try and prevent the spread of this organism.
