MRSA Differential Diagnosis: Symptoms, Risks & Treatment

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, is a type of staph infection that is resistant to once standard treatment and is potentially lethal. The infection frequently manifests as a type of skin lesion, finding opportunity in broken skin to invade. MRSA can affect respiratory, blood and other systems of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Initial Appearance

• The first appearance of MRSA often strongly resembles a serious spider bite, leading some people to falsely believe they had been bitten by a brown recluse spider, and have a necrotizing wound from that.

Rash

• The skin infections from MRSA appear as boils/carbuncles, or some type of follicular rash or lesion. Eventually they may get pus, ooze, and will feel hot and inflamed.

CDC Recommendations

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges health care providers to consider MRSA as the diagnosis in any skin or soft-tissue infections, due to the rise of MRSA in a variety of communities and settings.

Complications

• Untreated MRSA may later cause other symptoms, besides skin lesions, such as fever, aches, respiratory symptoms, and generally feeling unwell. If an unexplained rash appears, and other symptoms follow, consult a physician.

Treatment

• While MRSA is resistant to a number of antibiotics, there are some antibiotics that can be used to treat a MRSA infection. It may be necessary depending on the severity of the case, to treat a patient in the hospital intravenously.