ADVERTISEMENT
Georgia Health-Care Officials Warn of New, Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
Local health officials are warning about new strains of antibiotic-resistant staph infections masquerading as spider bites, insect stings or painful boils and pimples.
Untreated, the community-acquired bacteria - known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA - can lead to more serious conditions such as osteomyelitis and bloodstream infections.
Emergency centers in both Houston and Bibb counties reported a significant increase in MRSA infections.
"We're seeing increasing numbers of patients in our emergency departments as well as at the MedStops with community-associated MRSA infections," said Lisa Harris, Houston Healthcare's infection control practitioner. "Most often, they come to us with what they think is an insect bite that will not heal. What they actually have is an MRSA infection."
The infections are different from the more familiar hospital-acquired MRSA, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The new strains strike otherwise healthy people of all ages who have not been recently hospitalized.
The bacteria are spread through close skin-to-skin contact, cuts or abrasions, contaminated items, crowded living conditions and poor personal hygiene.
Although MRSA is resistant to more common antibiotics, there are remedies, according to Dr. Jason Gardner, an emergency center physician at The Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon.
"The good news is they are susceptible to some of the sulphur-based medicines that have been around for a while," he said.
Gardner said people should use common sense when they have a skin lesion. "If it goes away on its own, it's not likely MRSA," he said. "But if it continues to be bothersome or becomes larger, have a physician drain it, send off a culture and start treatment with antibiotics. If there is fever, the patient appears to be confused or there are a lot of joint aches, it could be something more serious."
The Macon physician suggests widespread use of antibiotics could account for the outbreak.
"Patients pressure physicians for antibiotics, and sometimes health-care providers are a little too liberal," Gardner said. "We eliminate the wimpy bacteria and allow the meaner bacteria to grow. It's a natural progression - what's stronger is going to survive.
"This isn't cause for global panic, but it does make us more cautious with the type of antibiotics we use for common infections."
Christine Elder, public health liaison for the North Central Health District based in Macon, said her agency has opened a surveillance project on MRSA.
"It's early in the project, so it's difficult to say if we're seeing more cases," she said. "As you increase awareness, you also increase case reporting."
She said MRSA infections are preventable. "Diligent hand washing is always important," Elder said. "I can't stress that enough. Also, be wary of sharing personal items such as clothing, hats, helmets, gloves and other common items."
Harris stressed that antibiotic treatment should be completed even if the infection is getting better.
"Also, never share antibiotics with others or save unused doses for use at another time since that may cause increased resistance to antibiotics," she said.
A staph or MRSA infection can come back even if it has been cured, according to Harris. "To prevent that from happening, follow your physician's directions and take preventive measures after the infection is gone," she said.
To contact Gene Rector, call 923-3109, extension 239 or e-mail grector@macontel.com.
***
MRSA precautions
Practice good hygiene: Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
Avoid contact with other people's wounds and bandages.
Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.
Clean and disinfect shared equipment and toys after each use.
SOURCE: Houston Healthcare
