1. MRSA is sometimes called superbug.

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are cluster of gram positive bacteria under microscope.
• These are a tougher strain of Staphylococcus aureus.
• The counterpart of MRSA is MSSA (Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus).
• Methicillin is a semi-synthetic (narrow spectrum) antibiotic drug that belongs to the penicillin class which is widely used to treat bacterial infection.
• MRSA develop resistance to staph infection antibiotics caused by mutation of genes of the bacteria that make it extremely virulent.

2. MRSA is an opportunistic microorganism.

• aureus is a native inhabitant of your skin and respiratory tract (commonly found in the nose) that even healthy people has it.
• MRSA carriers may not display symptoms.
• It is not always pathogenic until they have the chance at right circumstances to cause infection.
• Often due to self administration of antibiotics wherein bacteria are not completely destroyed that may soon resist antibiotic treatments.

3. MRSA targets people with weak immune system.

• The immune system works to protect the body from any microorganisms and foreign substances that threatens the body.
• Immune suppression may lead to susceptibility to variety of infections and diseases.
• HIV patients, people on chemotherapy and long term use of steroids are among those MRSA high risk groups.

4. MRSA is the major pathogen acquired in Hospitals.

• It is called nosocomial infection that may cause a considerably high incidence of illness and death or even health care costs.
• The infection is a result of invasive procedure (surgery and insertion of tubing – catheters or feeding tubes) which are prone to contamination.
• Health care providers can spread the infection from one patient to another without performing proper techniques and precautions.
• MRSA infection can also be acquired in crowded community living condition

5. MRSA can lead to potentially fatal complication.

• If left untreated, the bacterial toxins can penetrate deep into the internal organs and may be released to the blood stream causing bacteremia.
• The infection may likely end in toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening condition.

6. MRSA prognosis varies.

• It is determine by the overall condition of the patient and the severity of the infection.
• It also depends on the patient’s response to treatment.
• The prognosis is poor mostly on patients with immunocompromised status and with existing chronic medical condition (such as Diabetes).

7. MRSA poses a great challenge in clinical medicine.

• These bacteria are quite difficult to treat as it develops resistance to standard types of antibiotics thus confining to a limited option of the treatment.

8. MRSA transmission from livestock is possible.

• MRSA epidemiology had reached its circulation to the livestock industry.
• Livestock-associated MRSA has the capacity to transmit the infection to human.
• Antibiotics are widely used in food animal production which is a contributing factor of the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

9. Vancomycin is the wonder drug for the super bug.

• This is an intravenous form of antibiotics to treat invasive MRSA.
• It has been proven that this drug has compounds known to be sensitive to this specific strain of staph bacteria.
• It is considered as the first line of antibiotic therapy for treatment of MRSA infection.
• Oral antibiotics like clindamycin or co-trimoxazole is given to patient with mild infection.

10. MRSA can be prevented and controlled from spreading.

• Standard precautions are universal procedures carried out for infection control.
• Hand washing is the single basic practice to avoid cross contamination in healthcare facilities.
• Use of personal protective equipments (PPE’s such as gown, gloves etc.) is also employed under this control measure.