MRSA

I have written quite a lot about MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) but it is still a relatively misunderstood and seriously misdiagnosed infection. It is estimated that more than 10% of the U.S. population is infected with MRSA or are carriers. We are seeing a huge increase in infections that people do not even realize they have.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics.

The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, causing pimples or boils. But it can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract.

MRSA is also showing up in healthy people who have not been living in the hospital. This type of MRSA is called community-associated MRSA, or CA-MRSA. The CDC reports that in 2007, 14% of people with MRSA infections had CA-MRSA.

Studies have shown that rates of CA-MRSA infection are growing fast. One study of children in south Texas found that cases of CA-MRSA had a 14-fold increase between 1999 and 2001.

Part of the problem is that we refuse to look at the fact that as we continue to overuse antibiotics, MRSA and other bacteria will continue to morph and feed on antibiotics.

One can be infected by simply touching an area such as doorknobs, gym equipment, towels, etc. If you are using a gym, please wipe down the equipment before you use it with a sterile towelette. Always use the wipes at supermarkets for the carts. Keep an eye on your kids for signs of infection which can be something as simple as what appears to be a red "bite" mark, rashes, etc.

Prevention is always better than treatment, but historically the best treatment has always been something staph cannot adapt to...high quality and safe silver hydrosol. Our favorite that we keep around the house is Sovereign Silver. It is effective and absolutely safe.

Keep your eyes open.