Early Signs & Symptoms of MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, remains a major public health threat in the United States. Under growing pressure, hospitals--the major source of MRSA infections--have introduced stringent hygiene procedures to slow its spread. People who have been hospitalized, or who have had any type of surgical procedure, should be aware of MRSA signs and symptoms. About one percent of people in the United States are carriers of the MRSA bacteria, according to information released in June 2008 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Appearance
MRSA may initially appear on the skin as a rash, a pimple, or painful boil or abscess. Some people have mistaken an MRSA infection for a spider bite 2. An MRSA infection of the skin typically appears red and swollen 2. Pus and other drainage of the infected area may also be present, according to the CDC. If left untreated, an MRSA skin infection can quickly develop into a deeper infection that must be removed surgically 2.
Symptoms
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MRSA infection symptoms vary depending on where the infection originates and whether it has spread to other organs 2. Some common signs of an MRSA infection are pain at the infection site, fever, muscle and joint aches, and headache and fatigue 2. If the infection is in the lungs it may cause shortness of breath, chills, cough and fever. Burning or pain during urination, particularly following catheterization during surgery, could be a sign of an MRSA infection of the urinary tract 2.
Risks
MRSA skin infections are contagious and can be spread through skin-to-skin contact with open cuts and abrasions, or they can enter the body through a catheter or breathing tube. MRSA is spread most often through hospitals so being hospitalized, having a surgical procedure, or living in a long-term care facility, all carry a small risk for acquiring MRSA, according to the Mayo Clinic. Community-acquired, or CA-MRSA, outbreaks have been traced to crowded situations including jails, military training facilities and child care centers, where it spread through contaminated surfaces, skin-to-skin contact and poor hygiene. MRSA occurs more frequently among older adults, men who have sex with other men and people with weakened immune systems, according to the Mayo Clinic. People who have a lowered immune systems from an unrelated illness have a higher risk of developing a more serious MRSA infection, and should check with a doctor early if they suspect an infection 2. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections, according to the CDC. In very rare cases, MRSA and other types of staph infections can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, the so-called "flesh-eating" bacterial infection 2. Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious skin infection that spreads very quickly.
- MRSA skin infections are contagious and can be spread through skin-to-skin contact with open cuts and abrasions, or they can enter the body through a catheter or breathing tube.
- MRSA is spread most often through hospitals so being hospitalized, having a surgical procedure, or living in a long-term care facility, all carry a small risk for acquiring MRSA, according to the Mayo Clinic.
When to Get Help
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Minor skin problems such as insect bits, wounds and abrasions should be watched for signs of infection. According to the CDC, a doctor should see any wound that becomes infected. A doctor also needs to be consulted if a prescribed antibiotic isn’t working to cure an infection. An antibiotic isn’t working if the infection is no better after three or four days, if the infection keeps getting worse, or if a fever develops or gets worse after starting the antibiotic.
- Minor skin problems such as insect bits, wounds and abrasions should be watched for signs of infection.
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References
- CDC: Community-Associated MRSA Information for the Public
- MayoClinic.com: MRSA infection
- General Information | MRSA. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jun 26, 2019.
- What is sepsis? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Aug 27, 2019.
- Pneumonia | Pneumonia Symptoms | Signs of Pneumonia. MedlinePlus. Aug 20, 2019.
- Zeller JL, Golub RM. MRSA Infections. Jama. 2011;306(16). doi:10.1001/jama.306.16.1818.
- Rodvold KA, Mcconeghy KW. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus therapy: past, present, and future. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;58 Suppl 1:S20-7. doi:10.1093/cid/cit614
- Sai N, Laurent C, Strale H, Denis O, Byl B. Efficacy of the decolonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers in clinical practice. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2015;4:56. doi:10.1186/s13756-015-0096-x
- Anderson DJ. (2019). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in adults: Epidemiology. Sexton DJ, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
- Harris A. (2019). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in adults: Prevention and control. Sexton DJ, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
- Huang SS et al. Decolonization to Reduce Postdischarge Infection Risk among MRSA Carrier. N Engl J Med. 2019 Feb 14;380(7):638-50. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1716771
- Miller LG, Kaplan SL. Staphylococcus aureus: a community pathogen. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2009 Mar;23(1):35-52. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2008.10.002
- Septimus EJ, Schweizer ML. Decolonization in Prevention of Health Care-Associated Infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2016 Apr;29(2):201-22. doi:10.1128/CMR.00049-15
Writer Bio
Kat McCallum has been a full-time medical writer since 2004. Her writing is found in "Lancet Neurology" and "Oncology News International," and on AuntMinnie.com, a website for radiologists. She also held communication leadership positions at the American Academy of Neurology and the Minnesota Trade Office. McCallum has a Bachelor of Arts in communications and political science from the University of Minnesota.