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MRSA

MRSA infection is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria — often called "staph." MRSA stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. It's a strain of staph that's resistant to the broad-spectrum antibiotics commonly used to treat it. MRSA can be fatal.

Symptoms of MRSA include: -small red bumps, that are very similar to pimples, spider bumps, or boils. - usually, these bumps quickly turn into painful, penetrating abscesses that need surgerical draining, - they can also penetrate into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Causes of MRSA: - Staph bacteria are normally found on the skin or in the nose of about one-third of the population. Yet, if you do not show symptoms of the infection, you are said to be colonized with the bacteria. These healthy people can infect others by touch. - Staph infections are usualy spread through touch, and these cases are mild. - The bacteria gets into the body through open cuts or wounds.

Preventions: -Wash your hands. - Keep personal items personal. - Keep wounds covered. - Shower after athletic games or practices. - Sit out athletic games or practices if you have a concerning infection. - Get tested. - Use antibiotics appropriately.

Treatments include: - Antiobiotics such as vancomycin. - This antibiotic can save lives, but it is shown to get less effective over time because of the mutations and resistance that the bacteria goes through. - Many times the infection goes away on its own, with no use of antibiotics.

Structure: - Cocci shaped bacteria - Enveloped