MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is called a “Super-Bug” because it is antibiotic resistant, and it can be many strains of S. aureus bacteria; it is not a virus. There are ongoing studies and efforts to develop new and better antibiotics, but it is a difficult task because the strains are always evolving and becoming resistant to more and more drugs. MRSA is most likely to be contracted in hospitals (hospital-acquired infection), and studies show that the rate of contamination is as high as 64%. Random studies were performed on common hospital surfaces such as elevator buttons, door knobs, floors and walls. The tests showed that 80% tested positive for evidence of MRSA. Projections are for six million, world-wide, cases of MRSA in 2010, and the death rated is expected to be over 30% This could be considered a global plague. Most of us know about MRSA, some of us know someone personally who has contracted MRSA, and some of us know someone who has died from MRSA complications. It is of grave concern that the treatment options are limited and there are sources of infection now coming from outside of the hospitals.

MRSA cases identified in a healthcare setting are referred to as healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). In the last 40 years, MRSA has become a significant problem in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, although it was found in 1945 with the advent of penicillin. In the early years, MRSA was treated with penicillin. Now is antibiotic resistant, which includes penicillin and many other antibiotics. Because many patients in hospitals and nursing homes are weakened from disease or surgery and have compromised immunity – they are very vulnerable.

Predominately, MRSA is spread by hand-to-hand contact, and would seem it would imperative to be on highest alert regarding proper hand-washing procedures and hygiene in all healthcare facilities. A relatively new source of transmission is the use computer keyboards, since the implementation of computer technology.

Since the mid-to-late 1990′s, additional strains were identified as CA-MRSA (community-associated MRSA), and these were different because there were no healthcare settings involved from which to contract MRSA, and there were no risk-factors such as the injured, sick and immune compromised people. As these CA-MRSA infections were studied, it was determined that they were not caused by the healthcare-associated MRSA strain. According to a majority of research, MRSA occurs in our noses, and if it enters the body through injuries and open sores, then there is a possibility of fatal infections. Anyone can carry MRSA and never have a symptom, and it can be transmitted through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces such as keyboards, door knobs, and direct physical contact. Athletes who have sports contact, locker rooms, gyms, military recruits, and prisons are groups and areas where CA-MRSA is found to be more concentrated. The way to avoid contamination is to always use proper hand washing techniques, always bandage cuts and scrapes, and don’t share any personal items such as towels and razors.

Many times a bump on the skin will be dismissed as a spider bite. If it doesn’t get better in 3-4 days and you have a fever and flu-like symptoms, this could be MRSA. Symptoms of MRSA can be fever, swelling, heat and pain around a wound or injury, headache, and fatigue. More severe conditions are infections in the bloodstream, joints, bones, surgical incisions, heart and lungs

The strains of MRSA are crossing the human and animal barrier. Reporting of infection in horses began to increase, and studies are showing that the infection can be passed from horses to humans and vice versa. In the Netherlands five years ago and then in Canada, there was detected another MRSA (ST398) strain in pigs, and now testing in the US has found this strain in farm workers and pigs. It is unclear, if this strain can cause a significant problem in humans, and if it can contaminate food supplies. If it were found that the ST398 can cause infections in humans, an entire new problem with MRSA contamination will develop, and this will further complicate the fight. MRSA can even infect our companion animals, and there is now a risk for our pets when they have surgery at the veterinary clinic. It is not determined if human contamination from pets is a risk for people.

If you are contemplating surgery, most especially elective surgery, for conditions such as lumbar and cervical disc problems, you should research all your options and investigate nonsurgical treatment options, because one major surgery risk is the MRSA contamination of hospitals. Many hospitals do not screen for MRSA, although screening could be done. However, if a patient tested positive for MRSA, even without symptoms, they would be isolated and this could lead to longer hospital stays. From there we could have overloaded, understaffed facilities with less careful hand washing, and more exposure to infectious people.

Busch Chiropractic Pain Center offers the nonsurgical DRS Protocol treatment for herniated discs, degenerative discs, sciatic pain, spinal stenosis and neck pain or back pain of any kind.  Dr. Richard E. Busch III developed this successful protocol  and now trains other doctors, MDs and DCs, on how treat these problems without surgery or other invasive procedures and addictive medications.

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