MRSAColonization: Methods of Spread, Measures to Hinder, and Additional Details
Get the Straight Scoop on MRSA
If Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is present on or in your body, it's referred to as colonization. Here's the deal, you won't show symptoms of an MRSA infection, but you're a potential carrier.
You might find this bacteria lingering in:
- Nose
- Throat
- Groin
- Armpits
- Skin folds
- Perineal area
While MRSA colonization won't give you symptoms, it can worry healthcare professionals. Here's why—carriers can unknowingly spread MRSA, causing infections, particularly in healthcare settings.
MRSA infections are worrisome since the strain is resistive to common antibiotics, including methicillin and similar drugs like penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin[1]. This resistance makes it harder to treat and potentially more hazardous, especially for the vulnerable.
MRSA can spread:
- By close contact with those with MRSA infection or colonization.
- Through sharing unsterilized equipment or supplies.
- By environmental contamination of household surfaces.
Sometimes, colonization leads to infection, particularly if your immune system is weakened or you have a wound. To avoid this, stick to good hygiene practices:
- Wash hands and shower regularly using antiseptic soap.
- Keep wounds clean and covered.
- Avoid sharing towels, razors, clothing, and linens.
- Wash clothes, sheets, and towels in hot water, and dry on high heat.
- Regularly disinfect surface areas.
In medical settings, medical professionals might screen for MRSA, especially before surgeries, by swabbing common infection areas. They might prescribe nasal cream or spray, body wash, and shampoo to reduce MRSA bacteria if detected. You might need to use these for around 5 to 10 days.
Be on the lookout for skin infection signs, especially at cut or abraded areas. Signs of MRSA infection include:
- Pain
- Redness
- Pus
- Swelling
- Warmness to the touch
Following hygiene guidelines at home and in medical settings can help reduce the chances of MRSA colonization and infection.
Pro Tips- MRSA doesn't always go away on its own. In some cases, it may stick around if your immune system doesn’t fight it off[2].- Keep your environment clean—chlorine can help kill MRSA[1].- You might continue carrying MRSA bacteria depending on your immune system and other health factors[1].
[1] Mayo Clinic. (2021). Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/methicillin-resistant-staphylococcus-aureus-mrsa/symptoms-causes/syc-20353128[2] CDC. (2021). MRSA Skin Infection – Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/community/about/treatment.html
- The superbug, MRSA, can linger in various parts of the body, such as the nose, throat, and skin folds, even without causing symptoms, making it a potential health risk.
- Science has discovered that MRSA is resistant to common antibiotics like methicillin, penicillin, amoxicillin, and oxacillin, making chronic diseases and other medical-conditions more difficult to treat.
- Regular exercise and fitness, along with mental-health practices, play a crucial role in strengthening the immune system, reducing the chances of MRSA colonization and infection.
- Proper nutrition, particularly the consumption of foods rich in antioxidants, can support skin-care and overall health-and-wellness, helping the body fight off bacteria like MRSA.
- In recent years, alternative therapies and treatments like CBD are being explored for their potential benefits in boosting the immune system and fighting against chronic-diseases, including MRSA infections.
- In addition to hygiene practices, maintaining cleanliness in your environment, including the use of chlorine to disinfect surfaces, can help prevent the spread of MRSA, thereby reducing the likelihood of colonization and infection.
