How Do You Get MRSA?

It may be shocking for people to know that they already have staphylococcus aureus bacteria living on their skin and in their nose for several years. Most of the time, staph can exist in human beings without any harmful effects. However, once they start invading the system, things can get serious. Other people harboring bacteria without manifesting any adverse symptoms for many years can still pose a threat to others since the germs can be transmitted and infect.

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The 2 Major Means of Getting Infected

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There are two main ways on how to get MRSA. First is through physical contact wherein a person is directly or indirectly exposed to the bacteria living in another individual. The person may also be colonized by staph which means that he or she may have been harboring the bacteria without any harmful effects for a long time and it is only now that the germs started invading the system and causing problems. The colonized but unaffected person is then referred to as an MRSA carrier. The person may also be infected indirectly by contaminated objects such as door knobs, towels and faucets touched by an MRSA-infected individual or MRSA carrier.

The second means is through exposure to toxins that the bacteria produce. A number of situations that can cause MRSA via bacterial toxins would be food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome and blood poisoning. Bacteria like any other organism have a number of functions and also aims to reproduce and multiply. Some of these processes tend to be disturbing to the normal functions that occur within the human system. A person exposed to toxins or harboring bacteria that undergo processes will most likely manifest systemic symptoms.

The Infective Situations

The most common way of acquiring MRSA would be through the skin. People with open wounds, cuts, abrasions, eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems are more prone to becoming infected by the bacteria. Fragile, sensitive and broken skin will be easier to pass through since it cannot normally function as a barrier between the external environment and the internal body system. Staph bacteria are very virulent and can burrow and dig through tissues to enter the bloodstream.

Since direct contact is highly contributive to the successful transmission of MRSA, open body spaces will serve as entry points and should be protected constantly. Sharing of needles between individuals can cause the disease which is rampant among drug users and tattoo artists. Other shared items which harbor the bacteria are highly contagious so people should be careful about borrowing towels, toothbrushes, razors and pillows. Sexual contact can also lead to MRSA.

At the right temperature, staph bacteria can survive well, spread and breed so individuals should make it a habit to cook and store food properly to avoid poisoning. Toxic shock syndrome is associated with the use of materials that serve as bacterial breeding areas like tampons. People using some medications may also be at risk as well as young children and older adults since they have weaker immune systems that may not be able to fight off infection effectively.

MRSA may also be acquired as a secondary infection to colds, flu and other airborne illnesses. There is also community-associated MRSA or CA-MRSA wherein individuals get the disease from contaminated places like hospitals and towns with an epidemic.

How Do You Get MRSA?

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