MRSA Information for parents

FAQs on MRSA – Susan Brasher, ARNP

What is MRSA?

MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. MRSA is a highly contagious bacterium that is resistant to multiple antibiotics.

What does MRSA cause?

MRSA can infect any part of your body. However, the majority of MRSA infections affect the skin, forming boils and skin abscesses.  Sometimes these skin infections are so bad they require surgery or a small cut in the skin to drain the pus. If MRSA gets deep inside the body it can cause other serious and sometimes deadly problems.

What does MRSA look like?

A skin infection that is often red, raised, firm, painful, and may eventually drain pus. They often start small and grow bigger. They can be mistaken as spider bites, pimples, or bug bites.

Who gets MRSA?

It used to be that people with frequent hospital exposure got MRSA. However, in the past ten years MRSA has migrated from the hospital setting in to the community setting. Every person in the community is at risk for developing a MRSA infection. However, MRSA is more common in the following groups of people:

–       Individuals who live in houses with several people

–       Children who go to daycare

–       Children with family members who have MRSA

–       Individuals who play sports

–       Individuals with a history of taking lots of antibiotics, taking antibiotics without a prescription, or no taking the full course of antibiotics 

How do I get MRSA?

MRSA is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Meaning, you can get MRSA by touching someone’s skin that has MRSA and then touching an open part of your skin. You can also get MRSA by touching objects that an infected person’s skin touched. Depending on the surface, MRSA can survive on various objects from two days to several months.

How can I prevent MRSA?

–       Wash your hands regularly, either with soap and water or by using alcohol-based hand sanitizer

–       Always take antibiotics as they are supposed to be taken. Never stop antibiotics early or when feeling better. Do not share antibiotics. Do not take antibiotics unless told to do so by a health care professional

–       Always keep cuts and scrapes on your body covered with a bandage until they are healed

–       Do not touch other people’s cuts, scrapes, or wounds

–       Do not share personal hygiene items such as towels or razors

–       Protect yourself during physical activity: cover all cuts and scrapes, shower after each practice or game, clean or launder all personal items, and wipe equipment with disinfectant before and after each use.

What should I do if I think I have MRSA?

–       If any bumps on the skin develop suddenly and also quickly become hard, painful, increase in size, or drain pus, seek medical treatment immediately from your primary doctor or nurse practitioner.

–       Inform your primary doctor or nurse practitioner if any other family or household members have either been diagnosed with MRSA or have any of the above signs or symptoms.