mrsa tearpad
DESCRIPTION
P and H MRSA TearpadTRANSCRIPT
Staph is often found on yourskin or in your nose. But, it can also get inside your bodyand cause an infection.
Staph causes minor diseases like acne, boils and pimples. Or it can get through your skin and infect your:
blood
heart
lungs
You can also have a staph infection and not know it. It does not make you ill—you just carry it. But you can pass it on toothers and make them sick.
About staph infections
Staphylococcus aureus (are-e-us) or S. aureus is one type of staph bacteria. S. aureus is most often treated with strongantibiotics – like methicillin (meth-a-sill-in).
But, some germs resist the methicillin so it may not be able to cure the infection.These germs are called MRSA (methicillinresistant staphylococcus aureus). There are very few drugs that can be used to treatMRSA, and most often these have to begiven in the hospital.
For healthy people, MRSA most oftencauses a mild infection of the skin that can be treated. However, for people whoare sick or weak, MRSA can be hard-to-treat
or life-threatening.
About MRSA
Learning About MRSALearning About MRSA
Copyright © 2007Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc.
DO NOT DUPLICATE.
Product # 571
Germs (bacteria) are all around us. Whether they cause illness or not depends on where they live and what poisons they produce. One type is staphylococcus(staff-ah-lo-cock-us) or staph. This is a common germ that lives in people and on their skin.
®
Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Atlanta, GA 800-241-4925Providing Quality Health Education Materials Since 1973
Sample
Learning About MRSALearning About MRSA
Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc. Atlanta, GA 800-241-4925Providing Quality Health Education Materials Since 1973
Copyright © 2007Pritchett & Hull Associates, Inc.
DO NOT DUPLICATE.
As a rule, healthy adults and children are at very little risk ofgetting a serious case of MRSA. Most often, patients of hospitals or nursing homes get infected. And it can be serious for them. They are not able to fight off theinfection because they either:
are very sick
have a weakened immune system
have a bedsore (pressure ulcer wound)
have a catheter (a tube) going into their body
What each hospital does mayvary, but one with MRSA is mostoften isolated from others to avoidspreading the infection.
Who is at risk?
MRSA may be found anywhere there arepeople. There can be outbreaks of MRSAwhere good hygiene is not practiced,including offices, schools and gyms.
Where can MRSA be found?
If MRSA gets in a wound, it will:
have red skin near or around it
drain or have pus coming from it
hurt
If the infection is bad, you may have:
fever
headache
fatigue (be very tired)
What are the signs?
Practice good hygiene. Wash your handsoften with soap and water. Alcohol-basedhand disinfectants are also good forcleaning your hands.
Other good hygiene steps to take:
Cover any wound with a bandage.
Look at every wound for any sign of MRSA.
Do not share personal items.
Wash your clothes and linens in hot water and dry on the hot cycle.
What can you do?
MRSA is spread by touching others. It is not spread through the air. Youcan also get it from things that have MRSA on them. Once it gets on your hands, you can spread it to yourself or others.When it is just on your hands it iscalled “colonized”. You carry the germand can give it to others, but are notinfected by it. If it gets “in your body”you are “infected”.
How is MRSA spread?Sample