MRSA sepsis is a life-threatening infection caused by staph bacteria that are resistant to methicillin and other antibiotics. It can be acquired through surgical procedures or wounds and can cause fever, chills, and confusion. Treatment involves antibiotics and supportive care, and patients may be isolated to prevent the spread of the bacteria. Recovery chances vary based on the patient’s health and the timeliness of treatment.
Methicillin-resistant staph aureus sepsis (MRSA) is an infection of the blood with staph bacteria that is resistant to methicillin treatment and often to other antibiotics as well. This condition can be life-threatening until the bacterial infection can be brought under control. Because staph organisms resist treatment with many first-line antibiotics, the patient may require treatment with several different medications before effective treatment can be found.
MRSA sepsis first began to emerge in the 1970s, where it was primarily a problem among the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and intravenous drug users. In the 1990s, MRSA began showing up in more and more locations and became an increasingly common hospital-acquired infection. People can get MRSA sepsis from surgical procedures, penetrating flesh wounds, and any other situation where they are exposed to the MRSA bacteria and the bacteria get into the bloodstream.
Once the bacteria are in the bloodstream, patients can develop symptoms such as fever, chills, confusion, hyperventilation, rash, tremors, and eventual loss of consciousness. Treatment for sepsis in general is antibiotics given intravenously in an intensive care setting. For MRSA sepsis, the patient is usually given a drug such as vancomycin or trimethoprim. In addition to antibiotics, the patient may also require supportive care, including being placed on a ventilator, monitored for organ damage, and checked for signs of complications.
Due to concerns about the spread of MRSA, patients with MRSA sepsis can be isolated and treated in a safe area. This is designed to prevent bacteria from entering other areas of a hospital facility, for the safety of other patients. Persons interacting with the patient may need to observe special precautions, as they can act as vectors to carry the bacteria to other parts of the hospital and could potentially transfer MRSA directly from patient to patient.
If supportive care is provided in a hospital setting, the chances of recovery vary and the specifics of an individual case should be discussed with a physician to learn more about treatment options and possible prognosis. The underlying health of the patient is a factor. The earlier treatment is provided, the better the outcome for the patient and the more attentive the support staff, the quicker potentially dangerous complications will be identified and addressed. Even with the highest quality care, some patients with MRSA sepsis won’t recover because their bodies won’t be able to fight off the bacteria, and the complications of the disease could become overwhelming.
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