Superbug Passed From Animals to Humans
The superbug known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been found to pass from dogs and cats to humans. The most common form of transmission is from a bite. MRSA has been a problem in health care facilities for years; however, only recently has it been found at beaches and in pets.
The Center For Disease Control has publishing the following information on MRSA:
National MRSA Education Initiative — Preventing MRSA Skin Infections
The goal of the National MRSA Education Initiative is to help Americans better recognize and prevent MRSA skin infections.
Why is this important? Recent data show that Americans visit the doctor approximately 12 million times each year to get checked for suspected Staph or MRSA skin infection.
The good news is that a few simple steps can prevent and reduce the spread of MRSA.
About MRSA
MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and may cause skin and other infections. You can get MRSA through direct contact with an infected person or by sharing personal items, such as towels or razors that have touched infected skin.
If you or someone in your family experiences these signs and symptoms, cover the area with a bandage and contact your healthcare professional. It is especially important to contact your healthcare professional if signs and symptoms of an MRSA skin infection are accompanied by a fever.
What are the signs and symptoms of MRSA skin infections? Most staph skin infections, including MRSA, appear as a bump or infected area on the skin that may be:
* Red
* Swollen
* Painful
* Warm to the touch
* Full of pus or other drainage
* Accompanied by a fever