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MRSA in the lungs can be caused by factors such as spending time in healthcare settings, having a compromised immune system, weakened lungs, and being on a ventilator. Hospitals and other treatment facilities are common places for MRSA to spread, making those who require long-term care more susceptible.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, can cause serious and life-threatening infections. While these types of infections most frequently occur on the skin, there are a few common factors that can cause MRSA in the lungs. People who spend time in settings where MRSA is common, such as patients in hospitals, are more likely to become infected. Those with compromised immune systems or existing lung infections are also more susceptible. Using a ventilator to help with breathing can also make people more likely to develop MRSA in their lungs.
Treatment in a healthcare setting is often the cause of a MRSA infection in the lungs. Hospitals and other treatment facilities host many patients, some of whom may be carrying the bacteria. Due to the proximity of patients, MRSA is often passed from one person to another. Those who require long-term care may be more likely to develop an infection, as their extended stay in a healthcare setting gives them a greater chance of exposure.
MRSA in the lungs is more likely to occur in people with compromised immune systems. Many people are exposed to MRSA on the skin or in the nasal passages but do not develop infections; some diseases, however, such as HIV/AIDS, reduce the ability of sufferers to fight off bacterial infections. Some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy, can also reduce immune function, making patients more susceptible. The fact that these types of people can also spend a significant amount of time in hospitals and other health care settings where MRSA is common only contributes to the problem.
People whose lungs are already weakened by other diseases may be prone to developing MRSA in the lungs as well. Those with diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema or lung cancer already have weakened or damaged lungs. If the MRSA bacteria is present, compromised tissue can be attacked and infected more easily than healthy lung tissue.
Being on a ventilator can lead to MRSA in the lungs. Patients who need respiratory assistance while being treated for an injury or during an operation have a tube that runs down their windpipe to their lungs. In some people, the presence of this tube appears to compromise the lungs, allowing the infection to set in. Again, the fact that these people are usually in a hospital setting and therefore often exposed to MRSA only makes infection more likely.
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