AboutNigel Simmons Expertise I am happy to answer general questions on medicines and hospital care. If possible, please use approved / chemical names rather than brands which are not internationally recognised.
Like all health professionals I am bound by a duty of care which prevents me giving detailed information about medication or treatment of people other than the questioner.
I will endeavour to help wherever possible or point towards more appropriate advice. If however your question crosses too far into patient confidentiality, I hope you will understand why I cannot answer your question.
Consider.. would you want me to discuss your care with a friend or relative without your knowledge?
Experience Registered as a UK pharmacist in 1982 and have worked in a number of hospital and health management posts around the UK. Formerly Chief Pharmacist for a 440 bed general hospital in Cambridgeshire.
Past/Present clients Previously Sysop on CompuServe UK Professionals forum.
Question How can you mrsa if you have it?
As a student in lots of sports what can I do to protect myself from getting mrsa?
what are good ideas to have in you gym bag for emergencies?
what happens if you get mrsa?
Answer Dani
I suspect you may be worrying yourself unnecessarily as the risks of otherwise healthy individuals developing an MRSA infection is extremely small.
Methicilin (sometimes Multi) Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus is the general name given to strains of S. aureus that have developed immunity to multiple antibiotics including Methicillin which is always held as a reserve drug and not routinely used.
Staphlococcal infections are usually limited to the skin surface causing boils, zits etc. On occasions the organism is able to enter the bloodstream and cause a more serious infection deeper in the body or blood supply. This is a more serious consequence and requires high dose antibiotics to treat the condition. If the organism is resistant to many different antibiotics then obviously the likelihood of success is seriously impared.
While MRSA does not usually cause problems in healthy individuals, it can colonise an individual and increase the risk of them passing it on to others. Simple soap and water to keep the skin clean is a perfectly adequate means of preventing colonisation and maintaining a healthy skin. Specific antiseptic type products (e.g. alcohol gel) can be used when there is a particular risk but are not suitable for all body use. Some antiseptic skin washes can be used for colonised individuals, but again this should not be used routinely by everyone.
Clearing sports as they appear, washing hands and skin immediately afterwards and maintaining thorough skin cleansing ideally twice a day should prevent problems. Making sure the skin, especially skin folds is dry will prevent any infection developing in the moisture, so applying talc etc. will help.
Avoiding an individual known to have MRSA (not just Staph infection) is obviously the most effective defence, but if this is not possible then again thorough cleansing is advised.
Finally, if you keep a dry towel and a soap / shower gel in your gym bag you should have all you need to minimise any risk of acquiring MRSA.
