Many people are worried about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). MRSA infection is an infection with a strain of Staph (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria that is resistant to antibiotics known as beta-lactams. These antibiotics include methicillin, amoxicillin, and penicillin. MRSA must be treated with different antibiotics.

MRSA is most often confused with Necrotizing Faciitis, the so called “flesh eating bacteria”. Necrotizing Faciitis is Streptococcal Group A (GAS) – in origin “strep” is the bacteria that cause “strep throat”. Remember MRSA is a Staph infection and not a Strep infection.

MRSA has actually been all around us for years. Up to 40 percent of people carry some type of staph in their noses. Staph is the most common cause of skin infections. Staph bacteria (invasive to the skin) triggers a staph infection, commonly manifested as an infected wound.

Health Associated MRSA is commonly found in the surgical patients, immune compromised patients and Dialysis patients.

Community Associated MRSA is commonly found in Health Clubs, Schools (Gyms), Prisons, and Homeless shelters. Risk factors include sharing close quarters and personal hygiene products like razors or towels.
MRSA is transmitted by Skin to Skin contact with an open (draining), wound that is already infected with staph bacteria.

What does a MRSA skin infection look like?
In otherwise healthy people with no recent history of hospitalizations, MRSA often appears as a pimple or perhaps a spider bite that can be red, swollen, and painful. The lesion may also have pus or drainage.

How to protect yourself
Some of the best ways to keep from getting or spreading the infection include:
• Frequent and thorough hand washing. Experts recommend washing hands for as long as it takes to slowly recite the alphabet;
• Covering cuts and scrapes with a clean bandage;
• No touching other people’s wounds or bandages;
• Not shareing personal items like towels, razors or bars of soap

MRSA fiction
• Airborne – MRSA is not airborne;
• Carriers – MRSA transmission is not possible unless the carrier is actively infectious;
• Coughing – Respiratory MRSA is not recognized by the CDC as a substantial mode of disease transmission.

MRSA prevention
• Do not handle towels, clothing or other personal items, without latex gloves
• Wash your hands in soap/water or hand sanitizer – 2 minutes
• Disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces with alcohol/ethanol based products greater than 60%.

The Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce offers an association plan for members who have SCF Arizona as their workers compensation insurance. We invite you to join the other association businesses and become eligible to receive bonus dividends, based on your safety records. Call Cindy Brown at the Chamber, 520.792.2250, Ext. 154, for more information.

Congratulations to the following members who have achieved zero-percent losses on their workers compensation safety records.

Sayco Heating and Air Conditioning
Sasidek’s Information Technologies
Sakura Teppan
Sahuaro Girl Scout Council Inc.
Publicom
Airgas West
Surv-Kap Inc.
TNT Messenger Service
Tucson Association of Realtors
Tucson Audubon Society

(Watch next month’s Chamber News for a continuing list of businesses that have achieved zero-percent loss ratio.)