Community EducationCommunity EducationMRSAMRSA

In the HeadlinesIn the Headlines

““Staph Fatalities May Exceed AIDS Staph Fatalities May Exceed AIDS Deaths”Deaths”

- From the Chicago Tribune (October, - From the Chicago Tribune (October, 2007)2007)

The StoryThe Story

““More than 90,000 Americans get More than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each potentially deadly infections each year from drug-resistant staph year from drug-resistant staph “superbugs”, the Government “superbugs”, the Government reported in its first overall estimate reported in its first overall estimate of invasive disease caused by the of invasive disease caused by the germ.”germ.”

The Human ImpactThe Human Impact

Ashton Bonds, 17, died after Ashton Bonds, 17, died after spending more than a week in spending more than a week in the hospital with the infection the hospital with the infection known as MRSA.known as MRSA.

So what does this really So what does this really mean?mean?

MRSA

Superbugs

Staph

Understanding Understanding Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus

(staph)(staph) Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureus, often referred to , often referred to

simply as “staph," are bacteria commonly simply as “staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. This is termed colonized healthy people. This is termed colonized which means that bacteria are present, which means that bacteria are present, but not causing an infection. but not causing an infection.

Approximately Approximately 25% to 30%25% to 30% of the entire of the entire U.S. population is colonized in the nose U.S. population is colonized in the nose with this staph bacteria.with this staph bacteria.

Understanding Understanding Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus

(staph)(staph) Sometimes staph can cause an infection.Sometimes staph can cause an infection.

Staph bacteria are one of the most common Staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these skin infections are minor (such Most of these skin infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and can be treated as pimples and boils) and can be treated without antibiotics (also known as without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials).antimicrobials or antibacterials).

However, staph bacteria can also cause However, staph bacteria can also cause serious infections such as surgical wound, serious infections such as surgical wound, pneumonia and bloodstream infections. pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

Understanding MRSA Understanding MRSA (Methicillin-resistant (Methicillin-resistant

Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureus)) MRSA is a type of the staph bacteria MRSA is a type of the staph bacteria

sometimes called a “Superbug” that is sometimes called a “Superbug” that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include Methicillin and other antibiotics include Methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. This oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. This makes MRSA much harder to treat.makes MRSA much harder to treat.

Some good news: While 25% to 30% of Some good news: While 25% to 30% of the U.S. population is colonized with the U.S. population is colonized with staph, only approximately staph, only approximately 1%1% is colonized is colonized with MRSA. with MRSA.

Understanding MRSA:Understanding MRSA:A Call to ActionA Call to Action

Frequent and Increasing Once colonized with MRSA, 30-60% of

patients become infected at some time. MRSA accounts for 2 out of 3 healthcare

associated Staph infections, compared to 1 out of 5 only a decade ago.

Over 126,000 hospitalized persons infected annually

3.95 MRSA infections per 1,000 hospital discharges

Who gets staph or MRSA Who gets staph or MRSA infections?infections?

Staph infections, including MRSA, occur Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. have weakened immune systems.

The healthcare-associated infections The healthcare-associated infections include surgical wound infections, urinary include surgical wound infections, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, tract infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. and pneumonia.

Serious Serious MRSAMRSA Disease Disease

About 86% of all serious or invasive About 86% of all serious or invasive MRSA infections were associated with MRSA infections were associated with healthcare.healthcare. Of those, about 2/3 occurred outside of Of those, about 2/3 occurred outside of

the hospital, while about 1/3 occurred the hospital, while about 1/3 occurred during hospitalization. during hospitalization.

About 14% of all the infections About 14% of all the infections occurred in persons without obvious occurred in persons without obvious exposures to healthcare. exposures to healthcare.

MRSA accounts for 69% of all soft MRSA accounts for 69% of all soft tissue infections presenting to tissue infections presenting to Emergency Rooms in the USA.Emergency Rooms in the USA.

Eradication of MRSA carriage prior to Eradication of MRSA carriage prior to cardiac and orthopedic surgery may cardiac and orthopedic surgery may help to reduce the risk of having an help to reduce the risk of having an MRSA wound infection.MRSA wound infection.

Understanding MRSA: More Understanding MRSA: More FactsFacts

The Cost in Human LivesThe Cost in Human Lives

MRSA can be Deadly You are twice as likely to die of a MRSA

blood-stream infection as you are from a sensitive Staph blood-stream infection

Over 19,000 patients die each year from MRSA infections (CDC)

The Cost in DollarsThe Cost in Dollars

MRSA is very costly Annual Treatment of MRSA infections in

US hospitals - $3.2 -$4.2 billion On average, each patient with a MRSA

infection has: 9.1 days excess hospitalization $27,000 - $34,000 excess cost per case (CDC statistics)

Understanding MRSA:Understanding MRSA: Other Concerning Issues Other Concerning Issues

Community-Associated (CA) MRSACommunity-Associated (CA) MRSA MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who

have not been recently (within the past year) have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections. infections.

Staph or MRSA infections in the community are Staph or MRSA infections in the community are usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples usually manifested as skin infections, such as pimples and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.and boils, and occur in otherwise healthy people.

Small (0.2%) but real (and increasing) prevalence Small (0.2%) but real (and increasing) prevalence

Understanding MRSAUnderstanding MRSA

“Although the healthcare-associated strains are virulent enough to cause serious disease, there is some evidence the strains arising in the community are more virulent than those circulating in the healthcare system. Furthermore, there is evidence that these new strains are spreading from the community into the healthcare system.” - Dr. John A. Jernigan, Chief of Interventions and

Evaluations at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

How can I prevent staph or How can I prevent staph or MRSA skin infections?MRSA skin infections?

Practice good hygiene:Practice good hygiene: Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly

with soap and water or using an alcohol-based with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Especially important when hand sanitizer. Especially important when visiting someone in the hospital or nursing visiting someone in the hospital or nursing home.home.

Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. a bandage until healed.

Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages. bandages.

Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors. razors.

For More information:For More information:

www.webmd/news/20071024/mrsa-ewww.webmd/news/20071024/mrsa-experts-answers-your-questions-104k-xperts-answers-your-questions-104k-

www.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DSwww.mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735-28k00735-28k

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html-11k-ar_mrsa.html-11k-