What does mrsa do to you

They may also wear a gown over their clothes and may wear a mask. This card alerts staff to use extra care to prevent the spread of MRSA. Your visitors may be instructed to avoid touching infected skin and to take other precautions such as wearing gloves or gowns when visiting you. Is there a test for MRSA? You would not usually be tested for MRSA unless you have an active infection.

If you have a skin infection, your doctor may take a sample of the area to find out what bacteria is causing your infection. This is called taking a culture. The lab will then test the bacteria to find out which antibiotic is best for you. If your MRSA infections keep coming back again and again, your doctor may test you and your family members to see if you are carriers.

In this case, the doctor would take a culture from the nose or other areas where MRSA can be found. MRSA should always be treated by a doctor. It is important to follow the instructions for treatment that your doctor gives you. If you have an active MRSA infection, your doctor may choose one or more of the following treatments: Give antibiotics Drain the infection Reduce the amount of staph on your skin and in your nose 1.

Give antibiotics MRSA is resistant to many antibiotics so it can be difficult to treat. After the infection is drained, you must keep it covered with a clean, dry bandage, until it heals 3.

Reduce the amount of staph on your skin or in your nose This may prevent the spread of MRSA if you have an active infection or if you are a carrier. Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer Take a bath or shower often, be sure to use soap to clean your body while showering or bathing Wash your sheets and towels at least once a week Change your clothes daily and wash them before wearing again Do not share towels, wash cloths, razors, or other personal items If you get a cut or scrape on your skin, clean it with soap and water and then cover it with a bandage Do not touch sores; if you do touch a sore, clean your hands right away Cover any infected sores with a bandage and clean your hands right away after putting on the bandage Wear clothes that cover your bandages and sores, if possible Clean frequently used areas of your home bathrooms, countertops, etc.

You have to rub your hands for at least 20 seconds to get rid of the bacteria. How do I clean my hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer? Use enough to cover all the surfaces of your hands. Laundry Do I need to be careful when I do laundry? Dirty clothes and bedding can spread MRSA bacteria. When touching your laundry or changing your sheets, hold the dirty laundry away from your body and clothes to prevent bacteria from getting on your clothes Wear disposable gloves to touch laundry that is soiled with body fluids, like drainage from a sore, urine or feces Immediately put the laundry into the washer or into a plastic bag until it can be washed Wash your laundry with warm or hot water, use bleach if possible Dry in a warm or hot dryer and make sure the clothes are completely dry Clean your hands after touching dirty sheets or clothing and before touching clean laundry, even if you have been wearing gloves Throw gloves away after taking them off do not reuse them and clean your hands How often should I change clothes and bedding?

If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. This type of bacteria is resistant to many different antibiotics. However, when they begin to multiply uncontrollably, a MRSA infection can occur. MRSA is very contagious and can be spread through direct contact with a person who has the infection.

Though a MRSA infection can be serious, it may be treated effectively with certain antibiotics. HA-MRSA is associated with infections that are contracted in medical facilities, such as hospitals or nursing homes. You can get this type of MRSA infection through direct contact with an infected wound or contaminated hands. You can also get the infection through contact with contaminated linens or poorly sanitized surgical instruments.

CA-MRSA is associated with infections transmitted through close personal contact with a person who has the infection or through direct contact with an infected wound. This type of MRSA infection may also develop because of poor hygiene , such as infrequent or improper handwashing.

Areas that have increased body hair, such as the armpits or back of the neck, are more likely to be infected. Areas that have been cut, scratched, or rubbed are also vulnerable to infection because your biggest barrier to germs — your skin — has been damaged.

The infection usually causes a swollen, painful bump to form on the skin. The bump may resemble a spider bite or pimple. It often has a yellow or white center and a central head. Sometimes an infected area is surrounded by an area of redness and warmth, known as cellulitis. Pus and other fluids may drain from the affected area. Some people also experience a fever. Diagnosis begins with a medical history assessment and physical examination. Samples will also be taken from the site of infection.

The types of samples obtained to help diagnose MRSA include the following:. Wound samples are obtained with a sterile cotton swab and placed in a container. Sputum is the substance that comes up from the respiratory tract during coughing. A sputum culture analyzes the sputum for the presence of bacteria, cell fragments, blood , or pus. People who can cough can usually provide a sputum sample easily. Those who are unable to cough or who are on ventilators may need to undergo a respiratory lavage or bronchoscopy to obtain a sputum sample.

Respiratory lavage and bronchoscopy involve the use of a bronchoscope, which is a thin tube with a camera attached. Under controlled conditions, the doctor inserts the bronchoscope through the mouth and into your lungs. This is known as decolonisation. Treatment is normally done at home, but may be started after going into hospital if you need to be admitted quickly. These may be taken as tablets or given as injections.

Treatment can last a few days to a few weeks. During treatment, you may need to stay in your own room or in a ward with other people who have an MRSA infection to help stop it spreading. You can normally still have visitors, but it's important they take precautions to prevent MRSA spreading.

If you're staying in hospital, there are some simple things you can do to reduce your risk of getting or spreading MRSA. If you're visiting someone in hospital, clean your hands before and after entering the ward and before touching the person. Gel or wipes are often placed by patients' beds and at the entrance to wards.

It's also a good idea to put a dressing over any breaks in your skin, such as sores or cuts, to stop MRSA getting into your body. Get more advice about visiting someone in hospital. This video explains how MRSA is caught, what happens when you have it and how to prevent infection. Page last reviewed: 24 March Next review due: 24 March You can get MRSA on your skin by: touching someone who has it sharing things like towels, sheets and clothes with someone who has MRSA on their skin touching surfaces or objects that have MRSA on them Getting MRSA on your skin will not make you ill, and it may go away in a few hours, days, weeks or months without you noticing.