What You Need to Know About Mersa

Have you heard of Mersa?
I work on the internet incessantly, but don’t watch much TV…

I only just learned about Mersa a few days ago…and much to my surprise, people don’t really know a lot about it definitively.

Most of what they know is the “scary stuff” from the television designed for ratings and hype.

Although most of what they discuss on television is correct, it is presented in a manner that truly is to frighten the public.

More people than you could imagine carry Mersa, first of all. You are not a “leper” if you carry Mersa, although people may look at you “sideways” and act like you are.

What is Mersa?
Mersa is a “super bug”…It is a bacteria that is a form of Staph aureus that has mutated and is now resistant to antibiotics typically used to combat Staph.

How did it arise?
Do you remember all that talk about making sure you finish ALL of your course of antibiotics when they are prescribed to you? Do you remember ever hearing about that whole controversy that doctors prescribe antibiotics when they really probably don’t need to or shouldn’t?

Well, this is why…that regular Staph bacteria has mutated into something due to us not finishing our courses of antibiotics…it figured out a way to survive because we let it.

Now, many of the antibiotics used DO NOT work on it. In fact, when you find out you have “uncontrolled” Mersa, you will be prescribed 2 different antibiotics that work together…Sometimes, these don’t work, and these 2 antibiotics are very hard on your system.

What if those don’t work?
Well, there are a few back up plans with a few different medicines, also which are hard on the system, particularly the kidneys.

Can it be fatal?
Absolutely, it can. It is not “typical”, but you probably have just as much of a chance of perishing from Mersa, as you do from having a reaction to taking an Aspirin.

At the wound clinic in St. Catharines, Ontario, I was told that 4% of the patients that walk through the doors are infected with Mersa…Guess what, they see 1400 patients/month.

How do you get Mersa?
Well, it is often thought you only get Mersa from being exposed in hospitals…NOT SO! This is a myth nowadays, as Mersa is now all over the world, not only in hospitals, but in the community as well.

So, What Does It Mean to Me if I Get Mersa?
When you are admitted to a hospital, one of the first questions after your name will be, “Do you or have you ever had Mersa?”

Thing is, you are never “cured” of Mersa, but you go into a remission of sorts…They call it a “controlled” state.

If you have to answer “yes”, you will get your own room, instead of a “ward” room, so that they can “try” to contain it from the rest of the hospital community.

If you are a known carrier of Mersa, you need to be sure to completely clean any blood from any wounds or other bodily fluids so as not to contaminate others…It is contagious…

However, it is NOT airborn…It doesn’t jump from one person to another…You would actually physically have to stick an open wound of your own into a carrier’s wound to get it.

Good handwashing techniques and common sense can keep you from acquiring this.

What about our Animals?
Dogs, cats, etc. can be carriers of Mersa…especially if they’ve licked the wounds of someone infected. If they then lick your wounds, you are infected.

Honestly, it will spread like wildfire in the community, no doubt.

***

I hope you found this post on Health interesting on Your Health Today! Until next time…

Be Careful Out There,

Kimberly Edwards