Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Introduction:
MRSA arises for meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is an
ordinary skin bacterium that is opposed to a variety of antibiotics. 'Meticillin-
resistant' means the bacteria are unaffected by meticillin, a type of antibiotic
that used to be able to kill them.

An MRSA infection ways the bacteria have got into the

body through a break in the skin and multiplied,
causing warning signs. This is how MRSA bacteria have
become opposed to many antibiotics. The sign of MRSA
infections vary depending on which part of the body is
infected, causing swelling and redness at the point.

The problem:
Meticillin opposed to Staphylococcus aureus is an exacting variety of a very
common bacterium. A third of us have Staphylococcus aureus up our noses
all the time! MRSA is just a small group of this bacterium that has become
opposing to a common type of antibiotics. The bacteria itself isn't particularly
nasty; it is just more opposed to treatment, which has suggestions when trying
to find ways of preventing and treating infection.(1) The problems
Staphylococcus would cause on a day to day basis are wide ranging, and are
one of the commonest causes of infection in normal healthy people. When we
have a cut, it is usually our own Staphylococcus that infects us. Therefore,
Staphylococcus has been in contact with the antibiotic for a long time,
allowing a few resistant strains to evolve. It is only since people have been
repeatedly prescribed antibiotics that problems have arisen. The non-resistant
strains die out, leaving the resistant strains behind.

MRSA will not usually pass on a disease to a healthy person. While it is

possible for people outside hospital to become infected, MRSA infections are
most common in people who are already in hospital. This is because:
• They often have an entry point for the bacteria to get into their body,
such as a surgical wound or a catheter,
• They tend to be older, sicker and weaker than the general population,
which makes them more vulnerable to infection, and
• They are surrounded by a large number of other patients and staff, so
the bacteria can spread easily (through direct contact with other
patients or staff, or via contaminated surfaces).

Skin infection
• Most Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infections are skin infections,
including:
• Boils (infection of the hair follicles),
• Abscesses (pockets of pus under the skin),
• Impetigo (a highly contagious skin infection that produces blisters).
It is vital to keep eye on minor skin problems like spots, cuts or burns. It
people have wound on their skin then it may become infected.

Bloodstream infection
• If MRSA bacteria enter into the bloodstream from your skin, they can
affect almost any part of the body. They can cause:
• septicaemia (blood poisoning),
• septic shock (widespread infection of the blood that leads to a fall in
blood pressure and organ failure),(2)

MRSA infection as worsens. (3)

A possible solution:

‘scientist’ showed that 99% of the potentially dangerous MRSA bacteria in

infected wounds can be killed using a green dye that gives off toxic molecules
when it is activated by near-infrared light,' Near-infrared light is commonly
used in fibre-optics and telecommunications because it passes through glass
easily. Researchers have now discovered that it can be used alongside a dye
to kill bacteria that infect wounds and burns. The dye used, called indocyanine
green, is harmless to humans and inactive in the dark. However, it gives off
toxic molecules that rapidly kill the bacteria when it is triggered by the right
light wavelengths. This toxic doesn’t harm the tissues in the body.

'The chemicals produced when the dye is activated harm the bacteria in such
a wide variety of ways that it is unlikely bacteria could ever develop resistance
to the treatment, including MRSA.'

The new light-activated antimicrobial treatment is less effective when there

are low oxygen levels in the infected tissues. This is a common problem in
injuries where blood systems have been damaged, or where the injury is
further away from the bodies' main vascular systems. The latest work from the
University College London team shows that even with very low oxygen levels
in the damaged tissues, most dangerous bacteria can still be killed using the
light-activated dyes. ‘Increasing oxygen levels in the infected tissues would
maximise the killing effect,' said Dr Omar. 'But even with low oxygen levels a
very wide range of bacteria were killed, including over 70% of Streptococcus
pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, which has become one of the most
drug resistant bacteria in hospitals.'(4)
Implication and application:

There are some economical issue has been raised because as DR Omer
said it is expensive treatment to treat this illness because it cost more than an
average money spend on each patient in hospital. These infections increase
the length of time patient because patients have to remain in hospital by an
average of 10days, increasing the cost to the NHS by up to two and half times
as much as £ 2,400 per patient.

It is estimated that over 75 million people around the globe carry MRSA on
their bodies.

The graph below show how many people died from MRSA from 1993 to 2007
in UK.

(5)
This data is from USA’s hospitals.

• Number MRSA infected each year: 880,000 (2007 numbers)

• % of hospital inpatients MRSA infected each year: 2.4%
• Additional cost per MRSA infection: at least $10,000
• Total cost of MRSA infections per year: around $8 billion
• Average increased length of stay: 6 extra hospital days
• % of people with MRSA infection who die from it: 5%
• Number of MRSA infection deaths per year: 20,000 to 40,000

(6)

The social impact of MRSA is that it can transfer to other people direct relationship
the cause of these infections because it’s the general atmosphere that seems to lead
people getting MRSA it’s more the person to person contact.

MRSA is the most commonly identified antibiotic-resistant pathogen in many

parts of the world, including Europe, the Americas, north Africa, the middle
east, and east Asia, state the authors of a Review published online by The in
June2006. (7)

MRSA rates have been increasing worldwide over the past decades. Even in
Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands, where MRSA rates have been
fairly low and stable for many years, the frequency is beginning to rise.

"Of the expected 2 billion individuals carrying S aureus worldwide,

conservative estimates based on either Dutch or US prevalence figures would
predict that between 2 million and 52 million carry MRSA,"

MRSA was increased rapidly in the society in 2006 and now in 2007 2 billion
individuals carrying MRSA worldwide.

There are possible solutions within the piece of work.

Wards were required to ensure that alcohol-based hand rubs are placed near
all beds so that staff can hand wash more regularly. As with some other
bacteria, MRSA is acquiring more resistance to some disinfectant and
antiseptics. Although alcohol-based rubs remain somewhat effective, a more
effective strategy is to wash hands with running water and an anti-microbial
cleanser with persistent killing action, such as Chlorhexidine.

Hygiene is another tried and tested way of at least protecting the most
vulnerable patients from the most dangerous strains.

MRSA patients are also increasingly being treated in isolation where possible.

Why is it vital to solve this appropriate problem?

The bacterium actually exists quite harmlessly on the skin of millions of

people around the world. But its growing resistance to antibiotics, combined
with the increased pace and complexity of modern healthcare, have turned it
into a potential killer once it enters the bloodstream. (8) Young age. MRSA
can be particularly dangerous in children. Often entering the body through a
cut or scrape, MRSA can quickly cause a widespread infection. Children may
be susceptible because their immune systems aren't fully developed or they
don't yet have antibodies to common germs. Children and young adults are
also much more likely to develop dangerous forms of pneumonia, which can
result from MRSA, than older people are.

In the last decade the virus has been responsible for nearly 10% of all
hospital-acquired infections. It is believed to kill 1,000 patients each year in
UK hospitals – one of the worst records in Europe and also problem. The
government has launched a series of high-profile initiatives aimed at halting
the disease in its tracks. They include the ‘wash hands’ campaign, a
programme of ‘deep cleaning’ of all wards.
MRSA is a highly contagious infection that is spread through direct skin-to-
skin contact with an infected individual or contaminated surface. The infection
is highly prevalent on those with compromised immune systems; the infection
though can still be contracted by anyone who comes into contact with the
contagious.
This skin infection has affected people who play sport that involve contact for
one person to another. This is only affected many school children, this is also
affected many up and coming professional athletes.

www.google.co.uk/images/mrsainfection

(9)

The above are just a few typical pictures of MRSA. Starting from the top left.
The first picture is of MRSA which has really taken a hold and erupted in pus
filled lesions and would be very infectious. The right hand top picture is what
MRSA looks like under a microscope. . The bottom left picture is of an MRSA
infection that has become pitted into the skin. The final picture on the right at
the bottom is typical of how MRSA can first present itself. This was how it
looked on leg.

At this stage that MRSA is more likely a death sentence because the MRSA
will enter into the bloodstream where it might make an impact on the body. It
is very vital to solve the MRSA as you seen that it come out so horrible
disease or even blood problem.

Risk and benefits:

Risk for the environments and human is that, MRSA could stay alive for up to
few weeks on non spongy objects such as plastic building blocks and disc.
Additionally, the bacteria could be transmitted by touching the contaminated
object for just three seconds. (10) The other effect of MRSA is spread by direct
physical contact. This study is important in that it shows us an increased risk
of the transmission of MRSA from items such as plastic blocks and vinyl bags
and that the contact time with the contaminated.

Benefits for the environment and human is that as soon the illness clear from
the environment more people will be saved because as doctor said this
infection is spreading all over the globe so pace. Most people get infected
when they meet their relative in the hospital. Other people infected because of
their own problem such they forgot to cover their wound which causes MRSA
bacteria to react in body.

First solution:

Alcohol has been proven to be an effective surface

sanitizer against MRSA. (11) Alcohol can be used to clean
daily things that are used personally by the MRSA patients
in the hospitals. In health care centre, MRSA has been
treating separately because most of the germs stay alive
on fabric type’s things. Alcohol is very reactive to the
bacteria and used to break down the membrane plasma
and which is good to use to kill the bacteria.

Second solution:

Decolonization
After the drainage of boils or other treatment for MRSA, patients can shower
at home using chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) or hexachlorophene (Phisohex)
antiseptic soap from head to toe.(12) using this chemical affect the MRSA
bacteria which won’t let bacteria to make any impact on the site where they
can enter into the body.

EVALUATION:

As you have seen my bibliography the most of my work obtained from the
NHS website which is original website. As the result of this I have used that for
work. This also can be trusted because this is the Nation Health Service in the
UK and contain most accurate information. However; I have also used other
website for my work which is also gives reliable data. All people trust NHS
website very well because NHS received information and they check with their
scientists before update on to the website people. NHS also support all the
hospital in UK it worldwide trusted service.

The non-web base also the main source for my work, because I have took this
from the book called MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections
by M.D., Hernan, R. Chang. (8) The contents of this book are geared to the
reader who does not have a medical background. The information presented
is intended to provide a general understanding about MRSA infections. The
information contain in this book is very reliable because it’s very well-known
book. This give good level of information about the MRSA infection for that
reason I choose this to write why is vital to solve this problem.

Bibliography:

1 PRO Brian Duerden: (28/08/2009). MRSA. Available:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/MRSA/Pages/Introduction.aspx. Last accessed 7/02/2010.

2 PRO Brian Duerden: (28/08/2009). MRSA symptoms .Available:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/MRSA/Pages/Symptoms.aspx. Last accessed 7/02/2010.

3 Images: Dr Wing yug: (20/11/2001). MRSA Images. Available: http://www.asahi-

net.or.jp/~kr2m-nti/wound/wound036.htm. Last accessed 27/11/2010.

4 DR Omer: (10 September 2008 16:50 GMT). MRSA solution . Available:

http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=08091019.
Last accessed 30/11/2010.

5 Graph NHS Director: (1/12/2009). NHS. Available:

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=1067 Last accessed 12/1/2010.

6 Graph NHS: (10/12/2007). Agency of health research and quality.

Available: http://longevity.about.com/od/optimizemedicalcare/a/mrsa_infections_2.htm Last
accessed 2/12/2009.

7 Dr Hajo Grundmann, Project Leade. ( 22 Jun 2006 - 22:00 PDT). MRSA Is A Global Health
Problem. Available: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/45601.php. Last accessed
11 march 2010.

9 Smith Photograph. (6 June 2008). MRSA infections picture. Available:

www.google.co.uk/images/mrsainfection. Last accessed 9 march 2010.

8 M.D., Hernan, R. Chang. (November 2008). Infection. In: Hernan

R MRSA and Staphylococcal Infections by M.D., Hernan, R. Chang.
London: Hernan R. Chang, M.D.. 45-60Last accessed 10 march 2010.

10 ^ Simona Bratu,* Antonella Eramo,† Robert Kopec,‡ Elizabeth Coughlin,‡ Monica

Ghitan,‡ Robert Yost,‡ Edward K. Chapnick,‡ David Landman,* and John Quale*. (May 19,
2005). Hospital Nursery and Maternity Units.
Available: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no06/04-0885.htm.
Last accessed 1/12/2009

11 Angela L. Hollingsworth . (2003-09-26). AOAC Use Dilution Test Health

Care. Available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methicillinresistant_Staphylococcus_aureus#cite_note-55. Last
accessed 12/12/2009.

12^ Buckingham, SC. (December 2008). "Prevention of Recurrent MRSA Skin Infections:
What You Need to Know".
Available: http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/1360561?verify=0. Last
accessed 12/12/209.