MRSA: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Child
Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been making headlines throughout the country. MRSA is a drug-resistant strain of staph infection.
Staph is a common bacteria that lives on our bodies. Staph bacteria are harmless unless they enter the body, usually through a cut or other wound. Staph infections including MRSA are treatable and in healthy adults generally cause only minor skin infections. However in older adults and people who are ill or have weakened immune systems, staph infections can cause serious illness. If left untreated, MRSA can cause serious, even life-threatening infections throughout the body. MRSA is called a superbug because it is a highly drug-resistant strain of staph infection. This strain is resistant to the majority of the antibiotics commonly used to treat staph infections.
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Associated primarily with hospitals and healthcare facilities, MRSA and other staph infection strains are now appearing more frequently in communities. “An important thing to remember is that MRSA is treatable and there are ways to help prevent infection,” said Dr. Kyle Childers, Lexington Clinic Pediatrician.
The best ways for parents to protect their children and themselves from MRSA infection is to take the proper precautions, including:
- Wash your hands- Scrub hands briskly for at least 15 seconds, then dry them with a disposable towel and use another disposable towel to turn of the faucet.
- Keep personal items personal- Avoid sharing items such as towels, sheets, razors, and athletic equipment.
- Keep Wounds Covered- Cuts and abrasions should be kept clean and covered with dry, sterile bandages until they heal.
- Use antibiotics properly- Finish all medication, even if the infection seems to get better. Improper use of medication contributes to resistance.
MRSA infections generally begin with minor skin problems. Closely watch minor skin problems- pimples, boils, insect bites, cuts and scrapes. Watch for signs of infection especially in children and older adults including: Redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, pus drainage and fever.
If you suspect an MRSA infection, contact your doctor. If you or your child test positive for staph infection, ask that the culture be further tested for MRSA. “Good hygiene is still your child’s best defense. Good hand washing habits as well as proper wound treatment and antibiotic use will greatly reduce your child’s likelihood of contracting MRSA.” continued Childers.
For more information, please contact the Pediatrics Department at Lexington Clinic at 859.258.4000.
Lexington Clinic is a private, primary and specialty-care group practice with over 150 providers in 32 specialties working in locations throughout Central Kentucky. Lexington Clinic was founded in 1920 and operates offices in Corbin, Georgetown, London, Nicholasville and Richmond, as well as Lexington, KY.
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