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Is MRSA Infection A Contagious Disease?

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Posted on Mon, 29 May 2017
Question: what is M.R.S.A and how contages is it? also howe do you treat that ?
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (40 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
bacteria that is resistant to very many antibiotics, difficult to treat

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

MRSA stands for methicillin resistant stap aureus. This refers to a type of bacteria that it resistant (does not respond to) a lot of antibiotics

The most commonly used antibiotics do not work for this type of bacteria.

Overuse and improper use of antibiotics is the main reason for MRSA. Antibiotics are often prescribed for the common cold/ flu or for sore throat, these are viral infections and do not require antibiotics. As a person continues to use the antibiotics, their resistance to antibiotics develops.

Some persons are MRSA carriers, meaning that the bacteria is living on their skin or in their nose but they do not have any signs or symptoms of infection presently.
It is important to note that stap aureus bacteria normally lives on the skin and causes no problems but these persons have a different type of stap, theirs is MRSA (resistant to antibiotics).

MRSA is contagious, it can be transmitted by simple contact with a person who has this bacteria or coming into contact with some of their personal items.

As mentioned , there are some persons who are carriers (have the bacteria with no symptoms) but there are some persons who may have active infections such as an abscess or infected sore

Treatment: it is difficult to treat since it is resistant to many antibiotic but there are a few antibiotics that may work so if a person is diagnosed with this infection, they can be given a course of antibiotics

If an abscess or collection of pus is present, this would need to be drained

if a person is a carrier then attempts may be made to decrease the number of the bacteria living on the skin or nose.
This may be done by the use of antibacterial or antiseptic soaps, antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics or a combination of these.

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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Is MRSA Infection A Contagious Disease?

Brief Answer: bacteria that is resistant to very many antibiotics, difficult to treat Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic MRSA stands for methicillin resistant stap aureus. This refers to a type of bacteria that it resistant (does not respond to) a lot of antibiotics The most commonly used antibiotics do not work for this type of bacteria. Overuse and improper use of antibiotics is the main reason for MRSA. Antibiotics are often prescribed for the common cold/ flu or for sore throat, these are viral infections and do not require antibiotics. As a person continues to use the antibiotics, their resistance to antibiotics develops. Some persons are MRSA carriers, meaning that the bacteria is living on their skin or in their nose but they do not have any signs or symptoms of infection presently. It is important to note that stap aureus bacteria normally lives on the skin and causes no problems but these persons have a different type of stap, theirs is MRSA (resistant to antibiotics). MRSA is contagious, it can be transmitted by simple contact with a person who has this bacteria or coming into contact with some of their personal items. As mentioned , there are some persons who are carriers (have the bacteria with no symptoms) but there are some persons who may have active infections such as an abscess or infected sore Treatment: it is difficult to treat since it is resistant to many antibiotic but there are a few antibiotics that may work so if a person is diagnosed with this infection, they can be given a course of antibiotics If an abscess or collection of pus is present, this would need to be drained if a person is a carrier then attempts may be made to decrease the number of the bacteria living on the skin or nose. This may be done by the use of antibacterial or antiseptic soaps, antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics or a combination of these. I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions