Worry over MRSA infects nation

Infection rates of the now infamous methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain of staph in community associated settings are much higher in the United States than previously imagined, according to a study recently published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Findings of this study, which have sparked hysterical media coverage nationwide, show that this bacterial infection, found 85 percent of the time in healthcare settings, has become more prevalent in community settings unrelated to healthcare.

Fear of this bacterium arises from the fact that it is more difficult to treat, compared to other staphylococcal infections, due to a resistance against methicillin, as well as other antibiotics traditionally used to combat the infection. However, more powerful antibiotics suffice.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found the number of infected persons for 2005 to be approximately 94,360. In that year, there were 18,650 deaths related to MRSA infections.

More recently, the strain has emerged from healthcare settings, where peoples' immune systems are habitually weaker, into the community setting. Outbreaks have been discovered among sports teams, in prisons, and in schools, which tend to be breeding grounds for communicable disease.

The upsurge in recent media coverage has prompted many medical organizations to publish information pertaining to the infection and educate people about the true threats of MRSA.

Patricia Oswald, certified nurse practitioner for the Loyola College Health Center, raises awareness to appease the fears of students concerned about MRSA.

"This bacterium has been around for 20 years, it just stayed in hospitals. Now, within the past five years, we're seeing it outside of hospitals," she says.

Staph cases in general have been found for years, according to a fact sheet released by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. One in three people carries the staphylococcus bacteria, which is commonly found on the skin and in the nose.

Infection occurs when the bacteria enter the body through opened skin. Complications occur with serious infections, which can cause pneumonia and bloodstream infections. Bacteria are spread mostly through skin to skin contact, although other forms of transmission, such as the sharing of towels, initiate the spreading of staph.

Cases of staph infection have been most prevalent among persons older than 65, blacks, and males, according to the CDC.

The Center has formed a Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System, as well as an Active Bacterial Core surveillance system to monitor the incidence of MRSA in specific sites across the country. The latter includes nine sites representing a population of 16.3 million persons.

Prevention programs have been established, along with epidemiologic and laboratory research programs, and outbreak and laboratory support programs. Funding has been provided to academic and public institutions to continue research of what some have called a national epidemic.

Loyola has implemented efforts to raise MRSA awareness as well. Advertisements for cleanliness have been posted and notices concerning staph have been sent via GroupWise.

On Friday, Father Linnane sent out a campus-wide e-mail that included precautionary measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of contracting an MRSA infection.

"If students have concerns, they should seek medical care," Oswald says, noting that Loyola is conveniently located in the vicinity of a number of medical centers.

Students are encouraged to practice good hygiene and visit the Student Health Center's website should they have further questions concerning MRSA.