Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Skip to main content
Home

Header Top Menu

  • Careers
  • Investors
  • News
    • Press Release Archive
    • Press Statements
    • Podcasts
      • The Antigen Podcast
      • Get Science Podcast
      • Diverse Perspectives Podcast
      • menopause: unmuted
      • Hemcast
    • Contact Media Relations
    • Press Kits & Downloads
      • Company Press Kit
      • Pfizer Oncology Press Kit
      • PSA Narrative
      • RA NarRAtive
      • Rare Disease Gene Therapy Press Kit
      • ATTR-Amyloidosis Press Kit
      • UC Narrative
      • Eczema Inside Out Press Kit
  • Partners
    • Discovery to Pre-candidate
      • Focus Areas
        • Therapeutic Areas
          • Internal Medicine
          • Inflammation and Immunology
          • Oncology
          • Rare Disease
          • Vaccines
        • Therapeutic Modalities and Technology Platforms
          • Drug Safety
          • Gene Therapy
          • Target Sciences
          • Precision Medicine
          • Medicinal Sciences
            • Biologics Product & Process Development
            • Biotherapeutics Discovery
            • Medicine Design
            • Small Molecule Product & Process Development
        • Emerging Science
          • DNA Damage Response
          • Microsatellite Repeat Expansions
          • Senescence
      • Partnering Models
    • Candidate Through Commercialization
      • Focus Areas
        • Internal Medicine
        • Inflammation and Immunology
        • Oncology
        • Rare Disease
        • Vaccines
        • Hospital
    • Pfizer CentreOne
    • Pfizer Ventures
      • Our portfolio

Healthcare Professionals

  • Healthcare Professionals

Connect with Us

  • Connect with Us
    • Email
    • FAQ
    • Privacy Policy (NEW)
    • YouTube
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
  • Your Health

    • Healthy Living
      • Brain & Nervous System
      • Cardiovascular Health
      • Cold & Flu
      • Digestive Health
      • Healthier Aging
      • Living Tobacco Free
      • Men’s Health
      • Mental Health
      • Nutrition & Fitness
      • Pediatric Health
      • Respiratory Health
      • Skin Health
      • Vaccines & Prevention
      • Women’s Health

    • Disease & Condition
      • Cancer
      • Cardiovascular Diseases & Conditions
      • Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders
      • Immune System Diseases & Conditions
      • Infections & Infectious Diseases
      • Neurological Diseases & Conditions
      • Menopause
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccine-Related Conditions
      • Skin Diseases & Conditions
      • Atopic Dermatitis
      • Cardiovascular Disease
      • Severe Hypertriglyceridemia

    • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Resources

    • Managing your health
      • Caregiving
      • Evaluating Health Information
      • Tracking Your Health
      • Your Medicines
      • Health Literacy

    • Wellness
    Hot Topics

    Maintaining Emotional Well-Being During COVID-19

    Emotional Well-Being Tips for People Living with Chronic Inflammatory Conditions During COVID-19
  • Our Science

    • Driven to Discover the cure

    • Focus Areas
      • Internal Medicine
      • Inflammation & Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccines
      • Anti Infectives

    • Product Pipeline

    • Clinical Trials
      • Guide to Clinical Trials
      • Find a Trial
      • Expanded Access & Compassionate Use
      • Clinical Trials in Children
      • Partnering with Pfizer
      • Trial Data & Results
      • Research Integrity & Transparency
      • Diversity in Clinical Trials

    • R&D Platforms
      • Biosimilars
      • Gene Therapy
      • Medicinal Sciences
      • Precision Medicine
      • Maternal Immunization

    • Collaboration
      • Partner with Pfizer

    • Research sites

    • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Resources
      • All COVID-19 Updates
      • Vaccine Efforts
      • Antiviral Efforts
      • Partnerships & Anti-Infective Efforts
      • Supporting the Fight Against COVID-19
    HOT TOPICS

    MRNA VS. CONVENTIONAL VACCINES

    What Makes an RNA Vaccine Different From a Conventional Vaccine?
  • Our People

    • Meet The Experts
      • Scientists
      • Internal Medicine – Metabolic Disease
      • Inflammation & Immunology
      • Oncology
      • Rare Disease
      • Vaccines
      • Medical Professionals

    • The Journey

    • Leadership
      • Executives
      • Board Members
      • Company Fact Sheet

    • Diverse Perspectives
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Supplier Diversity
    HOT TOPICS

    Meet our new Chief Patient Officer, Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron

    dr_richardson_300x170.jpg

    Working Together to Empower Women

    VizagWomen_300x170.jpg

    • Hot Topics
  • Our Purpose

    • Commitment to Global Health
      • Expanding Access
      • Strengthening Health Systems
      • Providing Disaster & Humanitarian Relief
      • Unleashing the Power of Our Colleagues
      • Highlighting Individual Voices

    • Protecting People and the Environment
      • Pfizer's Green Journey
      • Product Stewardship
      • EHS Governance
      • EHS Supply Chain
      • Key Performance Indicators
      • Health & Safety
      • Human Rights

    • Positions on Health Policies
      • Ready for Cures
      • How does Pfizer price medicines?
      • Value of Medicines
      • Policy Positions
      • Creating Cures Through Facility Investments

    • Transparency
      • Working with Health Care Professionals
      • Transparency in Grants
      • Code of Conduct
      • Corporate Compliance
      • Sales and Marketing Compliance

    • Independent Grants
      • Competitive Grants Program
      • Independent Medical Education
      • Investigator Sponsored Research
      • Quality Improvement
      • COVID-19 Vaccine Grants

    • Contributions & Partnerships
      • Healthcare Charitable Contributions
      • Lobbying & Political Contributions
    HOT TOPICS

    Pfizer Women’s Resource Group

    Media Name: IWD_Pull_up_Banner_300x170.jpg

    • Hot Topics
  • Our Products

    • Product listing

    • How drugs are made
      • Branded vs. Generic
      • Biologics & Biosimilars
      • Commitment to Quality

    • Distributors
      • Pfizer Distributors
      • Greenstone Distributors

    • Medicine Safety
      • Reporting Adverse Events
      • Making Good Treatment Choices
      • Partnering With Patients
      • Health Literacy
      • Medicine Safety Tips for Patients
      • Counterfeiting
      • Unused Medicines

    • Safety Data Sheets

    • Medical Information Contacts

    • Pfizer Global Supply
    HOT TOPICS

    Universal vs. Single Payer Healthcare

    Media Name: universal_healthcare300x170.jpg
  • Careers

    • Working Here
      • Mission & Purpose
      • Culture
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Career Growth & Colleague Development
      • Compensation & Benefits
      • Ensuring Corporate Responsibility
    • Search Jobs
    • Student & Early Career
      • Postdoctoral Program
      • US Summer Student Worker Program
      • Opportunities for Veterans
    • Pfizer365.com
    • Our Hiring & Recruiting Process
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Tips for Interviewing at Pfizer
    • Connect With Us
  • Investors

    • Investors Overview
      • Why Invest / Our Story
      • Prospective Investors
      • Fact Sheet
    • Events & Presentations
    • Financials
      • Quarterly Reports
      • Annual Reports
      • SEC Filings
      • Interactive Data Filings
    • Investor News
    • Stock Information
      • Historical Price Lookup
      • Investment Calculator
      • Historical Stock Chart & Data
      • Dividend & Split History
      • Stock FAQs
    • Governance
      • Board Committees and Charters
      • The Pfizer Board Policies
      • Corporate Governance FAQs
      • Contact Our Directors
    • Shareholder Services
      • Stock FAQs
      • Advisory Information
      • Cost Basis Calculator
  • News

    • Contact Media Relations
    • Podcasts
    • Press Kits & Downloads
    • Press Release Archive
    • Press Statements
  • Partners
  • Footer links

    • Footer Aside Section1
      • CAREER-SEEKERS
      • INVESTORS
      • News & Media
      • Partners
    • Footer Aside Section 2
      • Healthcare Professionals
      • Business To Business
      • Change Region
      • Sitemap
    • Footer Aside Section3
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Linkedin
      • Instagram
      • Youtube
    • Footer Aside Section4
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy

What You Need to Know About MRSA

What You Need to Know About MRSA
YOUR HEALTH/ What You Need to Know About MRSA
April 4, 2017

By Jay Purdy, MD, PhD  — This post was originally published on Get Healthy Stay Healthy

Q. What is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)?

A. MRSA is the abbreviation for a specific type of bacteria (called “Staphylococcus aureus”) that is resistant to a class of antibiotics in the penicillin family including “methicillin.” The full name is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Q. Why is MRSA resistant to treatment? 

A. When penicillin was first used in the 1940's, it could seemingly treat nearly any infection. As the use of penicillin increased over time (including some overuse and misuse) bacteria (including Staphylococcus aureus) became resistant. As newer antibiotics were developed and used, bacteria became resistant to them as well, over time. Thus, there are a group of bacteria that are no longer sensitive to older antibiotics and a few bacteria that are resistant to nearly all of our current antibiotics. MRSA is often referred to as a “super bug” because it is resistant to many antibiotics and can cause severe disease. There are, however, effective treatments for MRSA, and it is important to begin treatment as early as possible.

Q. What are the symptoms of MRSA?

A. An MRSA infection usually begins when the resistant bacteria enter through the skin but MRSA can also invade the body in other areas such as the lungs. When entering through the skin, MRSA usually uses a small cut or a scratch for entry. In this case, early MRSA symptoms may include:
• A painful red bump or boil that may look similar to a “spider bite”
• A cluster of pimples
• A cut that begins to leak pus from it

If the infection progresses, the bump may become larger and more painful or be accompanied by spreading redness or tenderness. The bacteria can invade deeper into tissue and the blood stream causing fevers and chills, tiredness, cough or shortness of breath, rash, headache or worsening pain at infection site, and may cause more serious health problems and even death. People should seek medical attention as soon as they note any symptom that is unusual so that the infection can be evaluated and treatment started early, if needed.

Q. How is MRSA spread?

A. About 10% to 40% of healthy people have some form of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria living on their body. This is part of the normal bacteria in our nose and, armpits, groin and other areas of skin. Skin-to-skin contact between people and contact between shared equipment can spread the bacteria. The bacteria can live on surfaces that come in contact with skin in common areas such as locker rooms, military barracks, and day care centers. The bacteria can also live on surfaces such as door handles, equipment, computer keyboards, and tabletops. Most people who come in contact with MRSA do not become infected and have no problem with it at all. It is only when the bacteria invade through the outer layer of skin or into our lungs that issues can arise.

Q. What are the two types of MRSA (HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA)? 

A. Until the 1990s, MRSA was found mostly in hospitals and healthcare facilities, including nursing homes, dialysis units, and wound-care units. This type of MRSA is called healthcare associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). For the most part, HA-MRSA caused infections in people with weakened immune systems, older individuals, and also in people who had recently undergone surgery.

In the 1990’s healthy people with no connection to hospitals or healthcare facilities also started getting MRSA infections. Some people at risk are athletes on sports teams, children in daycare, army recruits, and people in prisons. This type of MRSA is called community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA).

Q. What can be done to help stop the spread of MRSA?

A. Prevention of any exposure is very difficult, short of living in a plastic bubble. But you can reduce your risk of becoming infected by doing a few simple things:

  • Wash your hands often. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available
  • Keep cuts and scrapes clean and bandaged until the skin heals
  • Avoid touching other people’s scrapes and wounds or bandages without washing hands afterward
  • Do not share personal items, such as razors, towels, athletic equipment
  • Shower with soap and water after all athletic events
  • Clean high-touch surfaces regularly

Q. If someone suspects that they may be infected with MRSA, what should they do?

A. If you think you have a significant infection, seek medical help right away. Health-care professionals can work to determine what type of bacteria is involved and provide the right treatment. Certain antibiotics can be used to control CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA. The more an infection advances, the harder it becomes to treat. Depending on the type and severity of the MRSA infection, in-hospital treatment may be needed. Getting treatment early may help stop a MRSA from becoming a serious or life-threatening infection.

 

Jay Purdy, MD, PhD is Senior Director in anti-infectives at Pfizer.

Visit Get Healthy Stay Healthy for more articles on Diseases and Conditions.

"You can reduce your risk of becoming infected by doing a few simple things."

Related Hot Topics
Viral vs. Bacterial Pneumonia: Understanding the Difference
Viral vs. Bacterial Pneumonia: Understanding the Difference
eczema_stress_380X220.jpg
Eczema and Stress: What's the Link?
investing_in_community300x170.jpg
Investing in Community-Based Approaches against Infectious Diseases
fam_new-380X220.jpg
DEAR SCIENTIST, ATOPIC DERMATITIS KEEPS ME ITCHING NONSTOP. CAN YOU HELP ME AND…
Huntington’s - A Family Disease
Huntington’s - A Family Disease
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
My Acromegaly, My Community
My Acromegaly, My Community
8 Common STDs
8 Common STDs
Tags
Disease & Conditions
Infections & Infectious Diseases
Show
Hide

Footer menu

  • Your Health
    • Healthy Living
    • Disease Conditions
    • Manage Your Health
  • Our Science
    • Therapeutic Areas
    • Product Pipeline
    • Clinical Trials
    • R&D Platforms
    • Collaboration
    • Research SItes
  • Our People
    • Meet the Experts
    • The Journey
    • Leadership
    • Diverse Perspectives
  • Our Purpose
    • Commitment To Global Health
    • Positions on Health Policies
    • Transparency
    • Contributions & Partnerships
  • Our Products
    • Product Listing
    • How Drugs are Made
    • Distributors
    • Global Product Information Contacts

Footer aside

  • Footer Aside Section1
    • CAREER-SEEKERS
    • INVESTORS
    • News & Media
    • Partners
  • Footer Aside Section 2
    • Healthcare Professionals
    • Business To Business
    • Change Region
    • Sitemap
  • Footer Aside Section3
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
    • Youtube
  • Footer Aside Section4
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
Pfizer Logo Footer

Copyright © 2002-2021 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved. This information—including product information—is intended only for residents of the United States.
The products discussed herein may have different labeling in different countries.