Gaurov Dayal: Lessons learned from MRSA ‘frenzy’

Yet, staphylococcus (‘‘staph”) infections, including MRSA, are not new. They have been around for some time and health care professionals have been working to combat them. As a physician, I am hopeful that this enhanced awareness of MRSA will help us slow the spread of infections.

Staph is a form of bacteria that is carried by about 25 percent to 30 percent of the population. These bacteria are one of the most common causes of easily treatable skin infections. When a staph infection is ‘‘methicillin-resistant” (i.e. MRSA), the bacteria are resistant to the methicillin class (first tier) of antibiotics, which includes amoxicillin and penicillin. One percent of the population carries this form of staph on their skin.

Staph bacteria easily spread through direct contact between people such as shaking hands, using the same towel or a piece of sports equipment or touching the office copier. The best way to slow the spread is through good hand washing with soap, warm water and rubbing for about 25 seconds. Also, uncovered open wounds allow bacteria to enter the body, potentially causing an infection. People should also avoid sharing personal items, including towels, washcloths, razors or clothing.

The attention to MRSA also raises another important health issue — the overuse of antibiotics. Staph infections have become resistant to the first tier antibiotics partly because these drugs have been over used in the last decade. When a runny nose turns yellow or green, many people run to the doctor asking for antibiotics for a sinus infection. In reality, many of these ‘‘infections” are viruses.

In treating patients, I have found that many people simply don’t understand that antibiotics only work against bacterial infections and not viruses. When antibiotics are used without the actual presence of a bacterial infection, the patient can build up resistance. In general, patients should only take antibiotics (and physicians should only prescribe them) when there is a bacterial infection. Over time, this will help us stop the ongoing cycle of resistance that is building.

While staph infections and MRSA recently gained public awareness, hospital and health-care workers have dealt with these infections for a long time. In fact, many hospitals and health care facilities today are taking even more aggressive steps to stop the spread of staph infections. Simple steps such as constant hand washing and rigorous cleaning of patient care equipment between uses are helping to halt the spread of staph bacteria in hospitals.

At Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, for instance, patients at high risk for MRSA are checked for the bacteria by swabbing the inside of their noses. When a patient tests positive, care staff follow special procedures to reduce the spread of these bacteria.

I hope that long-term, the lessons that we have learned from the recent attention to MRSA will result overall awareness and a decrease in this public health issue.

Gaurov Dayal, M.D., is chief medical officer at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville.