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Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection In Children
What is methic
This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Infection In Children
What is methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus?
- Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of germ called bacteria. MRSA bacteria can cause infections in your child's body. Antibiotic medicines are used to kill germs. When the germ called Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) becomes resistant to (not killed by) certain antibiotic medicines, it is called MRSA. The Staph germ is commonly found on the skin and in the nose. Your child may carry the Staph germ but not get infected or sick. A carrier of MRSA can give it to other people and make them sick.
- An MRSA infection is very contagious. This means that it spreads easily from person to person. Anyone can get an MRSA infection. Your child can catch MRSA inside or outside of a hospital. MRSA may cause a mild, severe (very bad), or deadly infection in your child's body. The infection may be in your child's skin, blood, lungs, heart, or brain.
What increases my child's risk of getting an MRSA infection?
- Using antibiotics: If you do not follow your child's caregiver's instructions for giving antibiotics, it can cause germs to become resistant. Giving your child antibiotic medicine often or for a long time may cause resistance. If you give your child antibiotics when he does not need them, this can also cause resistance. When certain germs cannot be killed by medicine, your child may get an MRSA infection.
- Staying in the hospital: This includes having surgery, being in the ICU (intensive care unit), or being on a ventilator (breathing support machine). A long hospital stay, or sharing a room with someone who has an MRSA infection increases your child's risk of getting MRSA.
- Having tubes, lines or metal implants in your body: Medical tubes placed into your child's body increase his risk of getting an MRSA infection. These tubes may include intravenous (IV) tubes, and large tubes called central venous lines. A central venous line may be used if your child needs to have dialysis or other treatments. Other tubes that increase your child's risk of getting MRSA include feeding tubes, and catheters. A urinary catheter is a tube that is used to drain urine. MRSA may also live on and around metal implants, such as prosthetics (man-made body parts).
- Having a weak immune system: MRSA is more likely to cause an infection if your child has a weak immune system. The immune system is the part of the body that fights infection. Having diabetes (high blood sugar) may weaken your child's immune system. If your child has recently had chemotherapy (medicine to kill cancer), he may have a weak immune system.
- Having the flu or chicken pox: If your child is sick with influenza (the flu) or varicella (chicken pox), he may also get MRSA. This may make your child very sick.
- Spreading MRSA to babies: If you are a woman who has MRSA, you may give it to your baby when you give birth to him. Talk to your caregiver if you are a woman who has MRSA, and you want to breast-feed your baby.
What else increases my child's risk of getting an MRSA infection?
- Not keeping clean: This includes your child not washing his hands well (using soap and water), or long enough. Diaper changing and wiping runny noses also increase the risk of spreading MRSA from one person to another.
- Having a family member with an MRSA infection: If someone living in your home has an MRSA infection, your child is at a higher risk of catching it.
- Sharing personal items: MRSA may spread when items such as toys, clothing, bedding, washcloths, and bars of soap are shared.
- Sharing space with other children: Children in day care facilities are at a higher risk of getting MRSA.
- Playing on a sports team: Your child can catch MRSA during sports. This can happen with body contact (touching) or sharing equipment. In some sports, such as football, the skin may be scratched during play. This makes an opening for germs to enter the body.
- Abusing intravenous drugs: Older children may get MRSA infections if they use intravenous (IV) illegal (street) drugs.
What problems can an MRSA infection cause?
MRSA can cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about any of these infections:
- Skin, soft tissue, or wound infections: These infections may be small, or they may be very bad infections of the skin, muscles, and other soft tissue areas. This can include an infection of your baby's umbilical cord stump. The umbilical cord connects a baby to the baby's mother before the baby is born. Your child may also get infections in wounds caused by an injury, illness, or a 