Special to The Independent
10/26/2007

In recent weeks, the media has flooded us with reports of MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) outbreaks and cases all over the country, including deaths.

As often occurs, there is much misinformation being disseminated, causing unnecessary alarm.

Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center and its physicians want you to know the facts about MRSA and how this infection could affect you and your family.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study Oct. 17, 2007, which is the first study to look at MRSA nationwide in real time. The study occurred between July 2004 and December 2005 in nine sites across the country ranging from urban to rural cities and communities.

Staphyloccus aureus is a bacteria that we have known about for decades. The bacteria may be acquired in three ways. The most common is called "community onset" and occurs in people who have had medical exposure in the last 12 months, such as surgery, implantable device (like a pacemaker), hospitalization and residence in a long-term care facility but are not currently in the hospital.

MRSA may also be acquired during a current hospitalization and is often called a nosocomial infection. MRSA may also be acquired in the community by people with no risk factors.

Resistant strains have been a problem since the 1960s. In 2000, over half of staph aureus cultured in intensive care unit patients was methicillin resistant. In 1981, the first community associated (no risk factors) cases were identified. Hospital acquired infections are generally harder to treat than community acquired.

MRSA occurs in about 32 people per 100,000 per year. As with most infections, there are risk factors. Certain groups are at higher risk to both acquire the infection and to become sicker. People over the age of 65, blacks and males are more prone to acquire MRSA. Children ages 5-17 are in the lowest risk group.

Death is also associated with these same groups in a higher percent and is more likely to occur if the disease is diagnosed later, when symptoms are more severe (pneumonia, septic shock). In this regard, MRSA is very much like most infectious diseases the medical profession encounters. MRSA is susceptible to numerous antimicrobial agents, but many of these must be initiated in the hospital setting.

There is only one basic recommendation to avoid MRSA infection that is specific to this bacteria. Good hygiene and hand washing are the simplest and the most frequently overlooked. The use of hand sanitizers are effective. They can be carried as personal wipes or pocket solutions and are available in dispensers throughout hospitals.

Avoid contact with people known to have MRSA infections. If a relative or loved one is hospitalized with a MRSA infection, follow the hospital rules regarding protection of both yourself and the patient, when visiting. Do not visit if you have one of the risk factors above, or have recently been sick or on antibiotics or are on chemotherapy that may suppress your immune system.

Most importantly, if you have a skin or wound infection that seems to be getting worse or spreading, see your healthcare provider immediately. Be assured that when you have an infection that is cultured, MRSA is automatically included. It does not have to be ordered specifically.

Additionally, Summit's Infection Control Department has kept a log of every positive MRSA culture in the hospital since 1997 so that we can monitor trends in both occurrence and treatment within the community.
If you have any questions, check with your healthcare provider.


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