MRSA Today - What is it?

MRSA. It is an alarming word. MRSA is a bacteria we will be exploring in detail over the course of this blog, with the hope of taking away some of the unknowns and subsequent alarm that can result. We will also be looking into some very new developments in the ways we can fight MRSA.

My definition, MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Essentially, it is a bacteria that causes infection. It is a pesky one because it has developed resistance to many of the antibiotics commonly used to treat infections. 

MRSA is often acquired in the hospital. Hospital workers may unknowingly carry the infection to vulnerable patients. Patients most at risk are those who are immunosuppressed (for example cancer patients receiving chemotherapy), experiencing invasive devices such as indwelling catheters, or those who have breaks in their skin such as wounds, that create an area where bacteria can enter the body.

The following video is an excellent primer on MRSA. It introduces us to MRSA through a patient's story, and helps us understand the essentials. 

References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgobi91LOA

Lewis, S., Dirksen, S., Heitkemper, M., Bucher, L., Camera, I. (2011). Medical-Surgical Nursing (8th ed., p. 238). St Louis, Mo.: Mosby/Elsevier.