Canadian officials do not want to cause panic among the public; however CA-MRSA is apparently beginning to emerge within the community with more frequency.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterial infection that is not easily treatable by antibiotics, as named by its resistance. The antibiotic-resistant bug seems to have cloned itself over the years into a new bacterial strain, named Community-Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).
The CA-MRSA has been termed as such due to its apparent spread among athletes in the communities, particularly infecting many professional athletes and children in daycare centers across the U.S.
Although a couple of these bug strains have been traveling across the U.S. within the last decade, the last few years have the infection has been more prevalent among U.S. professional athletes. The prevalent trek to Canada may emerge as well.
The MRSA infection is usually associated with patients in hospitals, affecting the elderly and those recuperating from operations. However, the CA-MRSA is now being linked to healthy adults and children who seem to be spreading the infection in athletic locker rooms, sports facilities and daycare or child care centers.
Commonly referred to in the health industry as a "staph" infection, healthy people are unaware that they are carrying the bacteria around with them all the time in their nostrils and on their skin.
The infection is spread from skin to skin contact or from breathing in the exhaled air from the sneeze of another person, particularly in warm damp or steamy areas, such as public showers, whirlpools or locker rooms.
Frequent hand and body washing with soap, and cleaning cuts and abrasions properly with soap and water and then dressing the wounds can help stop the spread of the infection. Overall basic hygiene does help fight the spread of the bacterial infection.
Also avoid sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, razors or clothing.
The Canadian Department of Infectious Diseases warns those individuals in the highest risk categories to follow common sense basic hygiene guidelines to help stop the spread of the bacteria as well.
These highest risk categories include athletes (primarily those in contact sports), children under the age of two years, minority populations (such as African-Americans or Native Americans), IV drug users, men who engage in sexual intercourse with other men, active duty armed services members, prisoners, pet owners (especially farmers) and veterinarians.
Although MSRA infections are usually mild and treatable, the CA-MRSA strains are harder to treat due to their higher resistance to most antibiotics. Then the spreading infections can get worse and even lead to lifelong illnesses and possibly life-threatening illnesses. Proper and timely treatment should be made.
Many times this type of infection is misdiagnosed by health care professionals as a spider bite. The patient should request a culture and antibiotic sensitivity test be taken to confirm the diagnosis for follow-up treatment.
