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MRSA is a highly contagious strain of Staphylococcus aureus that can cause life-threatening respiratory problems. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential, including intravenous antibiotics and quarantine. Close contacts should be screened and outbreaks can be contained with proper medication use and limiting personal contact.
Staphylococcus aureus (staphylococcus) is a very common bacteria that can cause minor infections of the skin, mouth and respiratory tract. Most strains of staph are easily treated with common antibiotics such as methicillin and penicillin. Some strains, however, have developed resistance to antibiotics in recent decades and are therefore very difficult to treat. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly contagious strain that can cause outbreaks in hospitals, schools, day care centers, and other places where large groups of people share common space. Respiratory MRSA occurs when bacteria lodge themselves in the lungs and throat, which can lead to life-threatening respiratory problems and general illness.
MRSA respiratory infections can be primary or secondary. A primary infection begins in the respiratory tract and can be acquired when bacteria is inhaled from another person’s sneeze or cough. Unsterilized breathing tubes used in hospitals can also introduce bacteria into the lungs. Secondary infections typically enter the body through a skin wound and eventually travel to the lungs via the bloodstream. The respiratory symptoms of MRSA can develop rapidly, sometimes within days or hours of the initial infection.
The most common symptoms of respiratory MRSA are fever, fatigue, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. A person may experience shortness of breath, cough, nausea, and headache. Muscles and joints tend to feel sore and it can be very uncomfortable or even impossible to sit up in bed. A life-threatening case of pneumonia can occur if the condition is not recognized and treated right away. Other life-threatening complications can occur if MRSA migrates from the lungs to other major organ systems, including the kidneys and heart.
Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent serious lung damage. Patients are typically quarantined in sterile hospital rooms to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other patients and healthcare workers. Blood and sputum samples are collected and cultured in a laboratory to identify the particular strain of staph involved. In most cases, a team of specialists work together to determine the best course of treatment.
The first goal of treating respiratory MRSA is to stabilize your breathing and heart rate. A patient can receive oxygen through a mask or breathing tube. Intravenous fluids and blood pressure medications are given to keep the kidneys, liver, and heart working properly. In most cases, several types of antibiotics, including clindamycin and tetracycline, are given intravenously in an attempt to stop the infection from spreading and kill existing bacteria. Depending on the effectiveness of the antibiotics and the severity of the symptoms, a patient may need to stay in the hospital for several weeks.
Once an antibiotic has proven effective and the patient is stable, they are usually given an oral prescription to take home for two to four weeks. Family members, colleagues, or others who have been in close contact with the patient are encouraged to be screened for MRSA. Most outbreaks can be contained when patients follow their doctors’ instructions on the use of medications and limit close personal contacts.
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