Just How Scary Is The MRSA Staph Infection?

The staph superbug, also known as MRSA, is a scary reality in today's world. What used to be just found in hospitals and nursing homes is now seen in many different communities such as schools and workplaces - in the form known as community-associated MRSA.

MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is an infection that is primarily seen on the skin, and it is usually transmitted from people who don't even know that they are carrying the disease. These people, comprising up to one third of the population, are known as being "colonized" and they can spread MRSA, the superbug, to people who have wounds or other ways of the bacteria entering their skin.

All staph infections, including MRSA have similar symptoms. The skin shows the first signs, with small red bumps that can look like pimples, or spider bites. Once advanced, these small staph bumps can turn into abscesses, which can be deep, painful and require surgical drainage. If not taken care of promptly, MRSA or even regular staph can progress beyond the skin. Once in the body, they can cause life-threatening problems and infections in the blood, heart, lungs and other parts of the body. Here is where the real fear lies - as the MRSA can't be treated as easily as simple staph.

This severe progression can happen quickly, as MRSA can easily progress from the skin to other parts of the body - especially if the person affected is very young, very old or has a compromised immune system. Unfortunately, most of the communities that MRSA is found in - hospitals, nursing homes and now schools, are filled with the people who are most likely to be severely affected by MRSA. It is important to keep an eye on any skin issues, even if they just look like pimples or spider bites. These small bumps can turn into infected abscesses.

If you or your child contract a skin infection, make sure that you have your doctor check for the superbug, MRSA, when you see him or her. If you are mistreated for an ordinary staph infection with typical antibiotics, they will not work, and can cause more problems in the long run. Your doctor or hospital can check for MRSA by taking a nasal swab or a tissue sample. These samples will be grown in a lab for about 48 hours, and then checked to see if they are truly MRSA. If your variant of staph is MRSA, you may be quarantined or otherwise watched in a hospital - so this is a very important test to have done.

John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com - makers of natural santizer that kills the MRSA Staph Superbug in less than 15 seconds.