How to Treat MRSA & MRSA Recovery

What is MRSA?
MRSA is short for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Commonly known as Staph, this microbes is a type that causes infection in many parts of the body. Most of the time Staph infection is not serious, but this type of infection can turn deadly if not treated. MRSA is a mutated strain of Staphylococcus aureus that has developed genes that allow it to resist disinfectants and antibiotics, making it a serious health threat. The mutation is the result of excessive use of antibiotics and disinfectants. Microbes replicate quickly. As new generations grow and survive after exposure to antibiotics, they will pass along resistant genes to the next generation and so on. Eventually there is a strain of microbes that is completely resistant to these antibiotics.

What are some common symptoms of MRSA?
The symptoms of MRSA are wide and varied. Symptoms include: nose sores, blisters that may look like insect bites, boils that may look like spider bites, fluid, blood or pus-filled boils, itchy skin or nose, low-grade fever, fatigue, body aches, cuts that become infected easily or often, red spots or various types of rashes, diaper rash, chest cold, jaw pain, ear pain, sinus infection, mastitis (breast infection in nursing mothers), red, warm, swollen or painful area on the skin, and urinary tract infection. As you can clearly see, MRSA symptoms can often be confused with other infections and diseases. If experiencing any of the before-mentioned symptoms on a regular basis, it is a good idea to get a check-up for MRSA.

In addition to these, there are other symptoms that may occur. The following may indicate some serious issues and a lethal level of MRSA: pain or lumps under the skin, red streaks on the skin near an old or new wound, signs of infection on or near a surgical site, low or high fever, low blood pressure, chills, malaise, chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, muscle aches, rash, vomiting, vision change, and dizziness. These may be signals of significant infection and you should immediately seek out medical attention.

Who is at risk for MRSA?
The risk factor of MRSA infection for certain groups of people are higher than others. These groups include the elderly, infant health care workers, law enforcement officers, children the chronically ill Immune compromised lactating mothers, surgical patients, those with high stress lifestyles, drug addicts, prisoners, homeless, athletes, and surfers.

How can MRSA be prevented?
The best way to prevent MRSA is by living a healthy lifestyle along with good hygiene. Maintaining healthy habits will help prevent MRSA, including daily exercise, eating right, and a balanced diet. Washing hands after every meal and bathroom visit will help prevent an infection. Since MRSA is common in hospitals, avoiding elective surgeries will help as well.

Six steps to treating MRSA
Contracting MRSA does not mean life is over. The infection is treatable, and here are some steps to help.

1. Find an infectious disease doctor. These doctors are trained in the treatment of infections like MRSA. A specialist will be able to recommend steps a regular doctor may not even know about.
2. Use natural Antibiotics. These antibiotics will help work with your body to heal the MRSA infection. A person can take these along with pharmaceuticals, but make sure to ask a doctor before hand.
3. A change of diet. Eating healthy may not be enough. Contracting a infection like MRSA means that there are choices a person needs to make. Certain foods and diet plans will help with the infection.
4. Take a strong probitoic. Not recommended until after a person is in recovery, a quality probiotic can replace the good baceteria in the gut that is typically killed off by multiple antibiotic treatments and will help fight off future MRSA infection. A probiotic supplement is a helpful bacterium that can be used to fight off the bad bacteria that are present in the MRCA infection. Probotics are often added to food, though the bacteria can also be a natural part of fruit, vegetables, and other items.
5. Change of lifestyle. This is a step that hits all parts of life. The changes can be small or they can be large. These include washing hands and not taking any type of drug, including antibiotics and over the counter medication.
6. Use Herbal Supplements. Since drugs are not something that can be consumed, herbal supplements will help fill the gap. Most vitamins should come from the change of diet but sometimes a supplement is needed to help a body out.