26-b-4 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ("mrsa")

• Library: A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual (2020 Edition)

26-B-4. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ("MRSA")

Staphylococcus (staph) is a kind of bacteria that can cause various infections, including everything from minor skin problems to serious, fatal infections.³⁷ Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is a kind of staph not easily treatable with the antibiotics that normally cure a staph infection.³⁸ Many people carry staph bacteria in their nasal passages without getting sick.³⁹ The illness can develop if the bacteria enter the skin, often through a scratch, scrape, or other minor wound. Most cases of MRSA happen in healthcare settings like hospitals, but MRSA is also more likely to spread in crowded living conditions, including in dormitories, athletic facilities, and correctional facilities.⁴⁰

The first symptom of MRSA is usually a skin infection easily mistaken for a pimple, boil, or insect bite.⁴¹ The infection may be painful, swollen, red, or produce pus.⁴² It can develop into a large abscess or blister.⁴³ MRSA is usually treatable, by either draining the wound or taking antibiotics.⁴⁴ Do not drain the wound yourself, since this can cause the infection to spread.⁴⁵ The infection may...