MRSA Symptoms & Risks: Understanding Methicillin-Resistant Staph Infection

MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterial skin infection common in hospitals. Patients who develop MRSA present a number of side effects or symptoms.

Types of Symptoms

• The first symptoms or side effects of MRSA include red bumps that look like pimples. In some patients, the rash worsens, becoming deep, infected sores.

Risk Factors

• Outside of a hospital or health care setting, certain people are more vulnerable to MRSA infections, including children, athletes involved in contact sports and patients with a weakened immune system from conditions like HIV, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Complications

• In some patients, the MRSA infection spreads to the bones, bloodstream, heart or lungs, where it can become life-threatening.

Diagnosis

• In order to diagnose MRSA, doctors utilize tissue samples or a swab of nasal secretions. These samples are sent away for testing for staph bacteria.

Treatment

• Intravenous or oral antibiotics are the most common treatments for MRSA.