This is my personal story.  Please read it.

"She thought it just the flu but it only got worse and my mother, Madeleine Sabo, a former permanent cosmetics technician and trainer, ended up unconscious in the local hospital emergency room. Undiagnosed, she was sent to a hospital in another city and then, via ambulance, to a large hospital in the next state. Instead of the flu Madeleine was finally diagnosed with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that was attacking all her internal organs.

After three weeks in the hospital-two of them in ICU, my mom, Madeleine, went home. She was alive, but she lost most of her eyesight and hearing in one ear. Almost ten months later as she continues to recuperate, Madeleine is determined to raise others' awareness of this dangerous infection, how it is spread and what to watch for.

What is MRSA?

Staph bacteria are very common in the general population. MRSA (pronounced "mersa") is an evolved type of staph infection. It is resistant to existing broad-spectrum antibiotic treatments, rendering them ineffective. That resistance makes MRSA not just dangerous, it can be fatal. Anyone can get MRSA.

Over the years antibiotics have become very prevalent in our world. They are present in our food and water. Additionally, we tend to ask for and use antibiotics in situations where they really will have no effect (like for colds or flu) and then we don't always use them properly. These circumstances have set up a perfect environment for staph to mutate and become resistant to a very wide variety of antibiotics.

How is MRSA spread?

In the past, staph infections cropped up in hospital patients, nursing homes or other healthcare-related places. This is called health care-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) and it mainly affects older adults and those with impaired or weakened immune systems. This type of infection is still with us.

If you are currently or have recently been hospitalized, live in a long-term care facility like a nursing home, use invasive devices such as catheters, or have been using antibiotics your risk of developing HA-MRSA is increased.

Many healthy people carry MRSA within the community without any signs or symptoms until an infection develops. It can be passed on and become harmful or even fatal to other people, especially very young or very old people, or those who are already ill and may not be able to fight off an infection. This form, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) is responsible for skin and soft tissue infections and a serious form of pneumonia.

What should you watch for?

At the start, MRSA infection generally looks like a red bump, pimple or spider bite. These can rapidly become painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the infection remains only in the skin, but it can (as in Madeleine's case) travel deeply into the body, becoming boils, abscesses, urinary tract infections, joint infections, lung infections or the entire system. Mom recalls a pimple-looking spot on her belly and then one in her ear.  She also mentioned later that she thought she may have gotten a urinary tract infection. From there she felt like she had the flu and remembers nothing until she 'came back to us' two weeks later in the ICU.

How can you avoid MRSA?

·    Don't use antibiotics unless truly necessary. If you need them, take the entire prescription as indicated by your doctor.
·    Do not share towels, razors, cosmetics, clothing or personal-care items with others.
·    Keep your living environment clean.
·    Wash your hands frequently using an antibacterial soap, rubbing your hands together at least 20 seconds.
·    Clean and disinfect all cuts and scrapes.
·    Keep wounds covered and clean until they are healed.
·    See your doctor about bites or cuts that may look infected. Ask to be tested for MRSA.
·    Follow all sanitary practices in your working environment to protect both you and your clients.
·    If you are hospitalized for any reason, ask staff to wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner every time they need to touch you.
·    Wash your own hands frequently.
·    Make sure any invasive items such as needles or catheters are inserted in a sterile environment and that health staff wears masks, gowns and gloves. They should also sanitize your skin before the procedure.

If you have something that looks like a cut, scrape, bug bite or a pimple that does not start to heal in a few days, begins spreading or becomes infected, or if you develop pain, fever or chills you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

Signs of infection include the area becoming red, warm to the touch and tender or the presence of yellowish-white fluid or pus. Ask your doctor to test the infection for MRSA before you start any antibiotic therapy. If you have MRSA some antibiotics are not only ineffective, but they may make your condition worse.

Learn More

The best way to avoid a bout with MRSA is to understand what it is. You can learn more from the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.com/health/mrsa/DS00735) and the Center for Disease Control (cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_MRSA_ca_public.html).
MRSA can be debilitating-and deadly-but knowledge, vigilance and quick medical care can protect you, your loved ones and clients."