A new study found that invasive MRSA infections, the kind that attack the blood or bones, occur more than 94,000 times a year in the United States. While most of those infections occur in hospitals, others are picked up in the outside world. Here, expert tips on how to protect yourself.
1. Wash your hands—a lot.
MRSA passes by touch. Use soap and hot water. And carry a hand sanitizer when you don’t have access to a sink.
2. Be on guard at the gym.
Bring your own yoga mat, and wear workout gear that covers your skin.
3. Check it out.
Pay attention to pimples or spots that look like spider bites. If they become painful or red, see a your doc—or visit a drop-in clinic or an ER. And don’t be shy about asking about MRSA.
Comments (8)
My mother recently passed away within 5 days of being hospitalized from MRSA
I was caring for an ailing grandparent in a (supposedly very nice) nursing home and would visit every night after work.
There were no notices regarding washing hands nor were there any hand sanitizing stations at the facility. Every night after visiting, I would drive home with an unbelievably bad stench from the home in my nose.
Within the month, I was diagnosed with MRSA on my left armpit. I took strong antibiotics, and it went away.
6 months later, I was diagnosed again. The infection was on my hairline next to my right ear. My face was swollen and the area was hot and hurt terribly. The doctor said he didn’t want it to spread to my brain so put me on IV antibiotics for a week in conjunction with stronger antibiotics for almost a month.
It was horrible, and I pray that it’s gone for good.
I urge everyone if you have the slightest question about a bump, go to the doctor. Better safe than sorry.
Diana, I am so sorry to hear your news. My sympathy goes out to you. My episode with MRSA was inside my right nostril, so I had no warning about anything that looked like a pimple or spider bite. My nose was red, swollen to twice the size and hot. The clinic gave me an antibiotic that did absolutely no good and I went to ER the next day in terrible pain. They treated it like MRSA, did a culture, admitted me and finally changed antibiotics to ones that would actually work. I hope it never comes back – it’s very scary.
i am very sorry to here all of your stories my aunt just got it and she s in terrible pain we thought it was aspider bite because it had an open wound it was so swollen and it looks nasty i feel everyone whos got its pain but if you get what looks like a boil see a doctor..,Taylor 9 grade Orlando FL Oak Ridge HIgh School
hi my name is joan and i have mrsa well that was my nurse say i beleve in god i have two kids right now i got to take, antibiotic so nurse explainto me to me its not dangerous if i follow up her isntruction
MY NEPHEW HAS MERSA, CAN YOU CATCH IT BY DRINKING AFTER HIM?? HE ALSO TOOK A PUFF OF MY CIGARETTE, CAN I CATCH IT THAT WAY
I have never had any problems with MRSA until the past few months. I am obsessive regarding using hand sanitizer never touch door knobs and use anti-bacterial soaps. why am i getting boils now? What could be causing this? They are now putting bactroban in my nose and a hibiclens rinse and she told me to be careful but I don’t know what I am doing that isn’t careful.
Does anyone know how long you are contagious with any form of MRSA. I have a family member hospitalized with it that I want to visit but I have small children and would like to know when it will be safe to be around our loved one again without risking the children’s health?