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A Spider Bite Could Really Be MRSA

Many people who get MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - a form of staph infection that's resistant to some antibiotics - believe that they have just a simple spider bite, ingrown hair, or pimple. Often times doctors agree with their patients and just prescribe an antibiotic. But, then the skin infection spreads and specialists finally figure out it's MRSA. Most often MRSA shows up as skin infections, but they can also progress into life-threatening conditions such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections or surgical wound infections. Read more from the Akron Beacon Journal.

MI Hockey Team Worries About MRSA

The Saginaw Spirit's trainer, Bryan Burnstein, and equipment manager, Jose Ortiz, have been busy lately trying to keep their players from coming in contact with bacteria that can cause staph infections - or worse. Coaches, trainers, physicians, and equipment guys have to worry about a stronger, potentially deadly form of staph - methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.

The best precautions are cleanliness and educating players about open sores and how to take care of them. In addition to sores and scrapes, the risk factors of contracting staph infections or MRSA include skin-to-skin contact, crowded living conditions, bad hygiene and contaminated gear and surfaces.

Read more from the Saginaw News.

High Schools in MI Dealing with MRSA

High school athletes in Michigan are dealing with common staph infections and with the not-so-common MRSA - pronounced "mer-sa" - as is the case in many other schools around the country. MRSA is a form of a staph bacteria that causes skin infections that doesn't respond to certain antibiotics and, if misdiagnosed, can cause death. Community-based MRSA, which is the form of MRSA that affects athletes, has attacked high school, college and professional sports teams from coast to coast and caused the deaths of otherwise healthy athletes. Experts warn that MRSA is very contagious and that coaches need to keep an eye on any wounds that their players get. Read more from The Saginaw News.

Georgia Football Players Sidelined Due To Staph Infections

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, or MRSA, is a bacterium that can spread, especially when two people come in contact with each other, like in a sport such as football. Because of that, some of Savannah, Georgia's, football players won't be playing tonight. Administrators at Benedictine High School are sanitizing their locker rooms and equipment hourly in an attempt to keep the infections from spreading. This is just the latest story that confirms that MRSA is on the rise around the country, mainly in hospitals, in contact sports, and in gyms. Read more online.

5 High School Athletes Report Staph Infections

Five new cases of staph infections, called methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (commonly called MRSA), have been reported at two Florida high schools. Because a lot of sharing goes on in gyms and locker rooms, and because athletes are more susceptible to cuts and lesions, many times MRSA is found in athletes. Half of all staph infections in the United States are resistant to penicillin, methicillin, tetracycline and erythromycin. Read more from the Pensacola News Journal.

How Bacteria Become Antibiotic-Resistant

Steven Potter of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on how

"some bacteria are naturally resistant to antibiotics, but genetic changes can cause resistance, as well."

Bacteria can become resistant through mutation and gene trading. While scientists work on coming up with new ways to treat resistant superbugs, there are several ways to reduce the chances of getting and spreading superbugs. Read more to find out how to avoid getting antibiotic-resistant infections.

Skin Infections Spreading in PA

The Pocono Record is reporting a rise in the number of children and adults with infected sores due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus, or MRSA. While MRSA is treatable, it is resistant to some antibiotics and if left untreated, the lesions or boils can spread to other parts of the body - and other people.

Dr. Lisa Esolen says, "Many patients don't seek treatment right away because the infection can look like an ordinary pimple or bug bite at the start. A lot of times patients initially shrug this off, but then it doesn't go away. Even family doctors may misdiagnose the problem as a spider bite."

Last week, Pennsylvania's Department of Health sent all public school districts a letter with recommendations for preventing the spread of skin infections, including MRSA. Dr. Esolen said that doctors typically see clusters of patients within families, athletic teams, and other situations where people are in close physical proximity. Hospitalization is sometimes required so patients can be treated with intravenous antibiotics.

OH School Athletes Confirmed with MRSA Infections

On September 19, 2006 parents of children who attend Lakewood High School in Lakewood, OH received a letter from the school saying that several cases of an antibiotic-resistant skin infection was found among players on the boys' football and girls' soccer teams.

"Lakewood City School District officials said there were three confirmed cases of community acquired methicillin-resistant mtaphylococcus aureus. According to the letter, six additional students probably had the infection, and nine more were considered likely and are under close review."

MRSA is bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and causes skin infections that lead to boils or blisters. MRSA can be contracted and transmitted through skin-to-skin contact and through shared items such as towels and athletic equipment.

Read more online.