Cause and Effects of MRSA

By: Danielle Ingrassia Abstract

In this essay I will be describing what MRSA is, how it is transmitted, what the effects of it are and how it can be prevented. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus (staph) because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics. The symptoms of MRSA depend on where you're infected. Most often, it causes mild infections on the skin, like sores or boils. It can also cause more serious skin infections or infect surgical wounds, the bloodstream, the lungs, or the urinary tract. Though most MRSA infections aren't serious, some can be life-threatening.. Because it's hard to treat, MRSA is sometimes called a "super bug."

Staph is a common bacteria that can live in our bodies. Plenty of healthy people carry staph without being infected by it, one-third of everybody has staph bacteria in their noses. Staph can be a problem if it manages to get into the body, often through a cut or leasion. Once there, it can cause an infection. Staph is one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. These are usually minor and don't need special treatment. Sometimes, staph can cause serious problems like infected wounds or pneumonia. Staph can usually be treated with antibiotics. But over the decades, some strains of staph, like MRSA, have become resistant to antibiotics that once destroyed it. MRSA was first discovered in 1961. It's now resistant to methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, and many other antibiotics. While some antibiotics still work, MRSA is constantly adapting to them. Researchers developing new antibiotics are having a tough time keeping up. When people do not complete antibiotics as directed then the bacteria