Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph bacteria that has become resistant to some antibiotics. Certain antibiotics no longer work for this type of bacteria. Staph bacteria can cause skin, blood or lung infections.
Staph infections, including MRSA, often appear as a bump or infected area that may be red, swollen, painful, and look like a spider bite or collection of pus under the skin. If you suspect a possible MRSA infection, cover the area with a bandage, wash your hands, and contact your health care person. It is very important to see a health care person if there are signs of a MRSA infection along with a fever.
- Direct contact with another person’s wound
- Sharing personal items that have touched infected skin (e.g., towels, razors, sports equipment, sheets, clothes)
- Touching surfaces or items with MRSA, such as used bandages.
Most skin infections can be treated by a health care person draining the wound. Do not attempt to do this yourself as it can make it worse or spread it to others. In some cases, the health care person will prescribe an antibiotic. If you are prescribed an antibiotic:
- Follow your health care person’s instructions on taking the pills
- Ask about possible side effects and how to help manage them
- Call your health care person if your infection does not get better as expected, or if you have any questions.
If some cases, the health care person may recommend IV (intravenous) antibiotics, or a hospital stay. If you stay in hospital, you may be alone in a private room to reduce the chances of spreading MRSA to other patients. When the doctors or nurses are in your room caring for you, they may use extra precautions such as wearing gloves and gowns. If you have MRSA pneumonia, they may also wear a mask. Visitors are usually able to come to your room and they will be given instructions on cleaning their hands frequently in the hospital, especially before coming into your room and before leaving the room.
- Honour your body, mind, emotions, and spirit in your wellness journey. Use cultural practices and traditional medicine that help to keep you in balance.
- Hand hygiene: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Personal hygiene: Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered until healed. Do not share towels, face cloths, razors, clothing, or items that may have had contact with your wound or bandage.
- Laundry: Wash your sheets, towels and clothes with water and detergent and dry them completely in a hot dryer.
- Cleaning the home: Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and items in your home that are often touched, such as doorknobs, light switches, and electronic devices.
- Stay up to date with immunizations including seasonal influenza: Immunizations prevent sickness and can mean you don’t need antibiotics. Influenza immunization protects against the flu and associated infections, such as MRSA pneumonia.
- Only use antibiotics as prescribed by a health care person: The unnecessary use of antibiotics can create stronger bacteria that are more difficult to treat.
- Notifying Health Care People: If you or someone in your household develops a skin infection that does not improve or becomes worse, seek medical attention promptly.
