Taking a Look at Staphylococcus Aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or more commonly, MRSA, is an emerging infectious disease affecting many people worldwide. MRSA, in particular, is a very interesting disease because although many people can be carriers of it, it generally only affects those with a depressed immune system; this is why it is so prevalent in places like nursing homes and hospitals. It can be spread though surgeries, artificial joints, tubing, and skin-to-skin contact. Although there is not one specific treatment of this disease, there are ways to test what antibiotics work best and sometimes antibiotics aren’t even necessary.

Describe methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its implications for patients who are diagnosed with this.

In conclusion, the importance of control and prevention in the spread of MRSA cannot be emphasised enough. MRSA clearly

MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is one of the most recent superbugs to become a health problem. MRSA is a species of Staphylococcus Aureus that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin and antibiotics like it. Doctors are struggling to find proper treatment because of its resistance to the beta-lactam ring, the core of most antibiotics. The most lethal strain is the CC398 strain, most commonly found on livestock. There are approximately 80,000 invasive MRSA infections and 11,000 deaths every year. (CNN.com)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a drug resistant pathogen abundant in healthcare settings and the second most common overall cause of healthcare associated infections (HAIs) reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) (Jernigan & Kallan, 2010). The prevalence of MRSA is a significant problem found amongst many Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in the United States (US); critically ill patients are at higher risk for hospital-acquired infections. Acquisition and infection of MRSA may significantly prolong duration of hospital stays, increase healthcare costs, and contribute to higher mortality rates. According to national data, MRSA accounts for nearly 70 percent of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from

Hospital settings have harbored a disease-causing organism called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) since the 1960s. However, hospitals aren’t the only settings at risk of a MRSA outbreak. In recent years’ healthy communities have seen a genetically distinct strain of MRSA, called community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Although this organism has been less resistant to antibiotics, it is more virulent and capable of causing illnesses (Alex & Letizia, 2007). The community should be aware of the risk factors for this infection and understand its signs, symptoms, and management.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus also referred to as MRSA is a type bacterium that becomes immune to many antibiotics used to treat even the most common infection. MRSA has become an issue in hospitals around the globe as it is known to constanly change over time. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRSA) usually occurs in day care home, hospitals and other related health care facilities. It was reported that in 2005 the majority of all infection related cases came from an antibiotic-resistant bacterium, resulting in a high rate of death (Tacconelli, et al 2007). In 1961 (Enright, et al 2002) methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRSA) was first discovered in the United Kingdom and later made its way to Asia and after to the United States.

This paper explores the study of an unknown bacterial culture. The bacterium were randomly assigned in a double blinded fashion to alleviate scientific or experimental error in determining their gram stain, morphology, arrangement, and scientific classification. There were eight unknown bacterial cultures given, with the unknown bacterial culture being one of the eight bacterial cultures. A myriad of tests and experiments were performed on the unknown bacteria in order to be able to properly classify it. One of the first experiments that was performed was the gram stain. It was determined to be gram positive. The arrangement of the unknown bacteria was also noted on the gram positive slide. The slide showed grape like

The main hospital strains are already partially or fully resistant to the effects of commonly used antibiotics. Resistance is also emerging to last resort drugs like vancomycin. The more virulent community strains of MRSA are infiltrating hospitals while the more resistant hospital strain is leaking into the community. The history of MRSA as described in Superbug shows how quickly bacteria can evolve when we add a strong selective force like antibiotics. Around the world, species of bacteria are becoming “superbugs” that are resistant to conventional treatments. Pharmaceutical companies are cutting research on new antibiotics in favor of more profitable investments. We are quickly running out of options for treating multi-drug resistant bacteria. As we move toward a “post-antibiotic” world, there are valuable lessons to be found in the history of MRSA, one of the first superbugs. Students in Emerging Diseases should read Superbug to learn about the complex emergence of

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a strain of staph bacteria which has developed resistance to the antibiotics designed to treat common staph infections (Winterstein, 2009, p.189). Originally viewed as a hospital pathogen, MRSA has now begun to appear in the community. Hence, the infection is now distinguished by its origin, defined as hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA), or community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). The close proximity of athletes, who often share soap, towels, and other items commonly used in the dressing room, as well as the vigorous physical contact involved in sporting activity (both practice and competition), have led to MRSA becoming a concern in athletics. MRSA is a concern because it can lead to severe infection and even morbidity (Indeed, athletes have become a target population for MRSA. A recent study of 377 varsity college athletes at Vanderbilt University confirms that those involved in contact sports were more than twice as likely to carry MRSA (Jiminez-Truque, 2014). It is believed that the higher prevalence of MRSA in contact sports is a result of the increased skin-to-skin contact which can lead to abrasions and cuts, which permit the superbug to enter the body and colonize it (Jiminez-Truque, 2014). Treatment of MRSA involves draining of abscesses, combined with administration of powerful antibiotics, usually intravenously (Winterstein, 2009, p.187). Since MRSA is resistant to the antibiotics developed to treat it

MRSA, or methacillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus, is a staph infection that is resistant to many antibiotics that are used to cure staph infections. According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, MRSA is the most common cause of skin infections and in some cases if not treated can become as severe as sepsis which can be life threatening. (Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, 2016, Para 1) MRSA is spread from skin to skin contact and once it has infected the host, and becomes more severe it has the ability to spread into the bloodstream, joints, bones and even organs. Severe cases of MRSA are typically seen in health care facilities. (Jatin M. Vyas, 2016, Para 4) Along with improper hand hygiene being a mode of transmission, patients are also able to contract the infection by coming in contact with contaminated bed linens, the bed or medical equipment.(CDC, 2016, Para

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is responsible for several infections in humans like pneumonia, bloodstream infection, etc. Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus was first identified among hospitalized patients in 1960s. MRSA is any strain of Staphylococcus aureus developed through the process of natural selection and resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics like penicillins (methicillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, oxacillin, etc.) and the cephalosporins. It is of huge concern in hospitals, prisons, and nursing homes, where the patients are at high risk due to open wounds, invasive devices, and weakened immune systems. MRSA infections that occur in hospitals are known as Hospital Associated MRSA (HA-MRSA).

In 2007, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infections were recorded as the underlying cause of, or a contributory factor in, approximately 9000 deaths in hospital and primary care in England[3]. Since 2006 there has been an 18-fold reduction

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that infects of the skin of an animal that creates horrific pain to the host. The name is broken down into three parts in Latin. “Staphyle” meaning “a bunch of grapes”, coccus which means “spherical bacterium” and aureus which best means “golden or gold-colored.” This name came about in Latin because when looked at under a microscope, the bacteria are all clumped together like grapes on a vine and the color is gold. (Harper n.d.) This bacterium is Gram-positive meaning that within the walls of the cell, peptidoglycan exceptionally thick. (Bruckner 2012) (PHAC 2012) A different strain of this bacterium called MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a bigger problem because it is unaffected by a type of penicillin, Methicillin. The first known sighting this particular resistant strain was first documented in 1961 by British scientists in England. (NiAID NIH 2008) Penicillin is used to create antibiotics because it in a way interferes with the cell wall of the strain and weakens it causing it to loose structure and die. By a strain becoming resistant, it learns the make-up of the antibiotic to change itself for the best chance of survival. (Tufts EDU 2014)

According, to doctors and scientists all over the world it is concluded with evidence that the strain Staphylococcus aureus is methicillin resistant because of the way individuals abuse the antibiotics and take high dosages when not needed nor prescribed by an attending physician or professional. Because of the high death mortality rate and the danger that this bacterium poses, it is very important to understand the different aspects of this strain, including the causative agent, how the pathogen affects the body, and also how the body fights this strain in order to properly protect individuals from this strain (MRSA,2015).