What do the terms MRSA and CA-MRSA mean?
MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Methicillin, an antibiotic that includes several types of penicillin, can no longer be counted on to fight these staph bacteria. The CA in CA-MRSA indicates Community-Associated MRSA infections, as opposed to those acquired in hospitals. MRSA can be pronounced as a single word (mersa) or as the four individual letters. Why has this suddenly become a big deal? While for years most MRSA infections were acquired in hospitals, an increasing number of people in the general population are getting sick from MRSA. No nationwide agency keeps consistent statistics on these kinds of infections, so last month’s JAMA study, which extrapolated data from states and counties that do keep those figures, was in effect a wake-up call that MRSA infections are rising nationwide. What are the symptoms? While symptoms vary widely, the first signs are often minor skin wounds, pimples, sties, insect bites and rashes that have become infected. These c
