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MRSA Infection (cont.)

MRSA Infection Overview
How Common Is MRSA?
MRSA Infection Causes
MRSA Infection Risk Factors
MRSA Infection Symptoms
When to Seek Medical Care
MRSA Infection Diagnosis
MRSA Infection Treatment
MRSA Infection Prevention
MRSA Infection Prognosis
Web Links
Synonyms and Keywords
Author and Editor
Viewer Comments: MRSA - Describe Your Experience

When to Seek Medical Care

When any of the symptoms described above (boils, abscesses, carbuncles, cellulitis, sty, impetigo, or sepsis) develop, seek medical care. Take all antibiotics as directed; do not stop the antibiotic even if the symptoms seem to resolve before you finish your prescribed dose. Early stoppage of antibiotics can allow MRSA to survive and develop further antibiotic resistance. If initial medical care (especially antibiotic therapy) does not help to reduce or eliminate the symptoms, do not wait until the symptoms get worse; go back to your health-care provider for further care.

MRSA Infection Diagnosis

The diagnosis of MRSA is established by culture of the bacteria from an infected area. Any area of the skin with pus, abscesses, or blisters should be cultured for MRSA. Patients with sepsis or pneumonia should have blood cultures drawn. Pus from surgical sites, bone marrow, joint fluid, or almost any body site that may be infected should be cultured for MRSA.

The definitive laboratory studies to diagnose that a person is infected with MRSA are straightforward. S. aureus is isolated and identified from the patient by standard microbiological techniques (growth on Baird-Parker agar plates and a positive coagulase test). The coagulase test is a laboratory test based upon the ability of S. aureus to produce the enzyme coagulase, that ultimately leads to the formation of a blood clot. After S. aureus bacteria are isolated, the bacteria are then cultured in the presence of methicillin (and usually other antibiotics). If S. aureus grows in the presence of methicillin, the bacteria are termed MRSA.

Carriers of MRSA are detected by swabbing the skin, nasal passages, or throat of asymptomatic people and performing the culture techniques described above.