Community-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA)
What is MRSA?
Specifically, MRSA is a type of staphylococcus bacteria that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus , often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population is colonized (when bacteria are present, but not causing an infection) in the nose with staph bacteria. Staph bacteria are becoming increasingly more resistant to other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. MRSA is a type of staph that is resitant to several types of antibiotics.
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.
Who gets staph or MRSA infections?
Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. These healthcare-associated staph infections include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. Healthcare-associated MRSA or "HA-MRSA " is the most common cause of death from a hospital-acquired infections.
Staph and MRSA can also cause illness in persons outside of hospitals and healthcare facilities. MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are know as community-associated or "CA-MRSA " infections. MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.
A concerning trend among sports teams.
Clusters of MRSA infection among sports team participants have been identified since 1986 and as recently as February 2006. These outbreaks of skin infections caused by MRSA have been increasingly reported in a variety of sports teams including fencing, wrestling, volleyball, and most frequently, football teams (professional, collegiate, and high school). While the situation is alarming, it highlights the importance of implementing prevention measures by players, coaches, parents, and school and team administrators. See Articles and Links for more information about athletics and MRSA.
Helpful Links
National Athletic Trainers Association: Recomendation regarding the potential risks and prevention tips for CA-MRSA (March, 2005)
MRSA information for coaches and players: From the Minnesota Department of Health
MRSA information for athletic departments: From the Texas Dept. of State Health Services. this extensive site includes recomendations,links, and a power point presentation
Guidelines for child care providers: The Texas Dept. of State Health Services created these guidelines and recommendations for creating a policy for the management of MRSA in day care settings.
MRSA educational posters: Download these posters from the CDC.
MRSA recomendations for schools: From the New Jersey Dept. of Health and Senior Services
