Everyone carries harmless bacteria on their skin. These bacteria reside as normal flora on our skin and play a significant role in preventing harmful bacteria from invading our body. One form of bacteria that you may have already heard of is found in 1/3 of the human population and is causing quite a stir in the medical community because of it's growing resistance to many forms of antibiotics (CDC, 2016). This bacteria, nick-named a super bug, is known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, for short. First discovered in 1961, MRSA has grown significantly resistant to many forms of antibiotics at an alarming rate, and pharmaceutical companies, researching for new forms of medicine, are having a tough time keeping up. MRSA is
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aureus is found in 1/3 of the human population and commonly resides in the nose, pharynx and skin of healthy, immunocompetent individuals. It can be transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing and can also be transmitted through direct contact with objects infected with the bacteria. S. aureus is opportunistic, entering the body through wounds, abscesses and broken skin and can be life-threatening in those who are immunocompromised. This bacteria manifests itself in a variety of ways and can appear as minor skin infections, such as pimples, carbuncles and boils, or life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, endocarditis and septicemia (CDC, 2016). A dose of antibiotics is typically effective in treating Staphylococcus infections but due to higher antibiotic resistance it has become a pertinent issue in the medical community. Since the development of penicillin, countless lives have been saved over the years but over-prescribing and misuse of the medication has played a large role in the antibiotic resistance crisis. As a result, resistant strains of S. aureus have grown and spread into the community, some even showing resistance to multiple antibiotics (Ventola, 2015). Prior to the discovery of penicillin, death due to bacterial infections was quite common. When penicillin was first introduced to the public in the 1940's, it was found to be very effective at curing bacterial illnesses and also played an immense role in controlling infections during WWII. 10 years after it's introduction to the public, the first case of penicillin resistant S. aureus was
aureus is found in 1/3 of the human population and commonly resides in the nose, pharynx and skin of healthy, immunocompetent individuals. It can be transmitted through the air by coughing and sneezing and can also be transmitted through direct contact with objects infected with the bacteria. S. aureus is opportunistic, entering the body through wounds, abscesses and broken skin and can be life-threatening in those who are immunocompromised. This bacteria manifests itself in a variety of ways and can appear as minor skin infections, such as pimples, carbuncles and boils, or life-threatening conditions such as meningitis, endocarditis and septicemia (CDC, 2016). A dose of antibiotics is typically effective in treating Staphylococcus infections but due to higher antibiotic resistance it has become a pertinent issue in the medical community. Since the development of penicillin, countless lives have been saved over the years but over-prescribing and misuse of the medication has played a large role in the antibiotic resistance crisis. As a result, resistant strains of S. aureus have grown and spread into the community, some even showing resistance to multiple antibiotics (Ventola, 2015). Prior to the discovery of penicillin, death due to bacterial infections was quite common. When penicillin was first introduced to the public in the 1940's, it was found to be very effective at curing bacterial illnesses and also played an immense role in controlling infections during WWII. 10 years after it's introduction to the public, the first case of penicillin resistant S. aureus was