MRSA Symptoms

The nature of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) makes it highly contagious and thus able to spread rapidly. Colonisation by bacteria occurs when they (bacteria) multiply and grow without any interruptions until they finally spread over an entire area on a carrier - in other words a person that has the bacteria present on their body. Entire areas of the body can be covered with a colony of MRSA without the patient ever being infected themselves; which is why it is vitally important to wash hands after having been in contact with an infected patient.

Health care workers can also be carriers for a colony of MRSA when proper post and pre-treatment procedures are not followed. Lack of proper hand washing, used surgical gloves, dirty surgical gowns and masks and medical instruments that have been used on more than one patient, are all different methods that a colony of MRSA bacteria can establish itself and grow.

The nonspecific characteristics of the bacteria also make it easier for it to grow and harder for us to control. Any surface of the skin is a great place for a colony to establish itself. Common places on a patient for colonised MRSA are areas such as the skin, near wounds or in the urine of an infected person. Even though we know that colonised MRSA does exist, it is difficult and almost possible to isolate a colony of MRSA or even those persons that may have colonies of the bacteria growing on them. Therefore it is necessary to consider all hospital patients as possible carriers and take the necessary precautions to eliminate the possibility of spreading the infection.