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MRSA Specialist

Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic -  - Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine Specialist

Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic

Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine Specialists located in Las Vegas, NV

MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) is a bacterium that can cause potentially life-threatening conditions, including pneumonia and sepsis. If you’re concerned about exposure to MRSA or you’re experiencing any symptoms, Alka Rebentish, MD, and Chukwudum Uche, MD, FIDSA, FACP, at Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic can help. They can test you for MRSA and prescribe antibiotics that are effective against the infection. Call the clinic in Las Vegas, Nevada, today or schedule a consultation using the online tool.

MRSA Q & A

What is MRSA?

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus or MRSA is a kind of bacteria that doesn’t respond to standard antibiotic treatment. It’s a particular problem in health care settings like hospitals and care homes.

Cases of MRSA in the community, for example, at your workplace or where you live, tend to cause skin problems. You might also develop pneumonia, and if left untreated, an MRSA infection can lead to bloodstream infections and potentially life-threatening sepsis.

In health care settings, MRSA can cause the same problems and also infect surgical wounds. Hospital-acquired MRSA is a serious problem that can be spread between patients by health care providers unless they follow the strictest hygiene protocols.

How would I get an MRSA infection?

Studies indicate that around one-third of the population in the United States has the staphylococcus aureus bacteria in their nose. 

MRSA can affect anyone who comes into contact with it, and the closer contact you have with other people, the higher your risk. However, not everyone who has the MRSA bacteria on their skin goes on to develop an infection.

If you have a cut or wound in your skin, it makes it easier for MRSA to enter your body. Therefore, anyone who undergoes surgery or has a medical device fitted has a higher risk of developing MRSA.

Good hygiene is essential to prevent an MRSA infection, and you should avoid sharing towels, razors, clothing, and other personal items.

What are the symptoms of MRSA infection?

The symptoms you experience with an MRSA infection vary depending on which part of your body is affected. Skin infections can cause raised bumps and symptoms such as:

  • Swelling
  • Warmth
  • Redness
  • Pain

The infected skin could fill with pus or other fluid, and you might also be feverish.

You might think your symptoms are due to other causes, so if you experience any indications that you could have MRSA, it’s important to seek medical advice. 

The experienced doctors at Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions like MRSA.

How is MRSA treated?

MRSA bacteria are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin. However, some other antibiotics are effective in treating the infection. You might need a course of oral antibiotics or, in some cases, intravenous treatment, with drugs like vancomycin, clindamycin, or doxycycline.

MRSA treatment also includes therapies for the symptoms you’re experiencing, for example, combatting fever by cooling your body or draining abscesses in your skin.

To find out more about MRSA or arrange testing, call Infectious Disease Associates & Travel Medicine Clinic today or book an appointment online.