MRSA Treatment Recommendations

Clinicians, for example in an out-patient setting, will follow certain guidelines when treating a MRSA skin infection. They will have to follow certain criteria that will dictate the treatment.


If a patient has the signs of a MRSA skin infection, the clinician will first examine whether the skin wound is purulent. The signs of purulence include fluctuance (palpable fluid-filled cavity), yellow or white center, central point or "head', draining pus, and whether it's possible to aspirate pus with syringe or needle.

If the lesion is NOT purulent, the clinician will provide antimicrobial therapy with coverage for Streptococcus, maintain close follow up, and consider adding coverage for MRSA if patient doesn't respond to treatment.
If the lesion IS purulent, the clinician will drain the lesion and send the wound drainage for culture and susceptibility testing. They will educate the patient about wound care and hygiene, and discuss follow-up care with the patient. (For example, if you have a skin lesion it's very important to keep it covered with a dressing, to prevent spreading the infection to others.)

If there are systemic symptoms, severe local symptoms, immunosuppression, or failure to respond to incision and drainage, the physician will consider further antibiotic (oral or IV) treatment focused specifically on MRSA.
The side effects of these treatments depend on the type of antibiotic used. For example, Vancomycin can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss, and also can be toxic to the kidneys.


Interestingly, it was recently found that an Anglo-Saxon potion from 1000 years ago successfully treated the MRSA bug! You can view a video on this phenomenon here:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/31/health/anglo-saxon-potion-mrsa/

Source: 
http://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/pdf/Flowchart_pstr.pdf
http://www.livestrong.com/article/110099-drugs-used-treat-mrsa/
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/new-guidelines-for-treating-skin-268853
http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/31/health/anglo-saxon-potion-mrsa/