Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly known as MRSA, is a type of staph bacteria that has developed resistance to several common antibiotics. This resistance makes MRSA infections more challenging to treat compared to regular staph infections. The question of whether one can be “cured” of MRSA is a common concern, and understanding the nature of this bacteria helps clarify the answer.
Understanding MRSA
MRSA is a strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillin, amoxicillin, and methicillin. This resistance stems from the mecA gene, which allows the bacteria to produce a modified protein (PBP2a) that continues building cell walls despite these antibiotics. MRSA spreads through direct skin-to-skin contact or by touching contaminated surfaces or shared items. It can survive on surfaces for weeks.
The bacteria are found in healthcare settings (healthcare-associated MRSA or HA-MRSA) and the wider community (community-associated MRSA or CA-MRSA). Many individuals carry MRSA on their skin or in their nose without symptoms, a state called colonization. This differs from an active infection, where bacteria multiply and cause symptoms like skin sores, boils, or more severe conditions such as pneumonia or bloodstream infections. Colonized individuals can still spread the bacteria to others.
Treating MRSA Infections
Diagnosing MRSA involves sending a sample of body tissue, fluid, or nasal secretions to a laboratory for testing. Samples are cultured to grow bacteria, or newer tests can detect staph DNA rapidly. For localized skin infections, treatment often involves draining abscesses or boils, sometimes with topical antibiotics.
More serious MRSA infections, such as those affecting the lungs, heart, or bloodstream, require oral or intravenous antibiotics. While MRSA resists many common antibiotics, specialized ones remain effective, including vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim), and clindamycin. The specific antibiotic chosen depends on the infection’s location, severity, and the MRSA strain’s susceptibility. Completing the entire course of antibiotics is important to resolve the infection and help prevent further antibiotic resistance.
The Nuance of “Cure” for MRSA
Active MRSA infections can be successfully treated and resolved with appropriate medical care, meaning the symptoms and pathogenic activity are eliminated. In this sense, a person can be “cured” of an active MRSA infection. However, being cured of an active infection does not always mean the bacteria are permanently eradicated from the body.
MRSA can recur or individuals can become re-colonized even after successful treatment. To reduce MRSA carriage, decolonization strategies may be employed. These can involve antiseptic washes, such as chlorhexidine, and antibiotic nasal ointments like mupirocin. While these methods can help reduce MRSA bacteria on the body, they are often not permanent solutions, and recolonization can occur within weeks. Therefore, “cure” for MRSA often refers to successful management and elimination of infection symptoms, rather than lifelong eradication of the bacteria.
Preventing Future Infections and Spread
Practicing good hand hygiene is an effective way to prevent MRSA spread, including frequent handwashing or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Proper wound care, such as keeping cuts, scrapes, and other skin lesions clean and covered, helps prevent MRSA from entering the body and causing infection.
Avoiding the sharing of personal items like towels, razors, clothing, and athletic equipment reduces the risk of transmission. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces helps eliminate MRSA bacteria from the environment. Seeking medical attention for suspicious skin lesions that are red, swollen, painful, or draining pus, especially if accompanied by fever, is important for early diagnosis and treatment.