| MRSA is an acronym for Methicillin Resistant | | | | better technique than this now, but the rest of |
| Staphylococcus Aureus. But what does this | | | | the world pretty much does it just like that. Can |
| mean? When you break it down, you can see. | | | | you imagine what happens to the bacteria on |
| Starting from the second half of the name, | | | | your hands now? You are left with bacteria that |
| Staphylococcus aureus (or S. aureus) is the | | | | is resistant to your antibacterial soap. Oops. Then |
| scientific name (Genus, species) for a spherical | | | | you go outside, see your neighbor, and shake |
| shaped bacteria that is prevalent everywhere, on | | | | hands with him. Oops again, now your neighbor |
| everyone's body. There is an extremely good | | | | has been introduced to your antibacterial |
| article at the Textbook of Bacteriology website | | | | soap-resistant bacteria. My aunt told me that she |
| that explains the biological characteristics of the | | | | has never used Lysol, or antibacterial soap in her |
| bacteria. Methicillin is "a semi synthetic | | | | house. We all cringe at the thought of that now, |
| penicillin-related antibiotic, also known as Staphcillin, | | | | including me, but there is something very |
| that once was effective against staphylococci | | | | important in there somewhere.Back when our |
| (staph) resistant to penicillin because they produce | | | | parents were children, somehow they survived |
| the enzyme penicillinase (quoted from | | | | without antibacterial soaps. Our world is full of |
| MedicineNet.com)." Resistant means "Having the | | | | antibacterial-everything now. Plastic toys are made |
| capacity to withstand: immune, impervious, | | | | with antibacterials, and even the grocery stores |
| insusceptible, proof, resistive, unsusceptible | | | | now have antibacterial wipes when you walk in to |
| (quoted from Answers.com)." goes on to explain | | | | get a shopping cart so you can wipe down any |
| Methicillin Resistance: "Rarely used now, Methicillin | | | | bacteria on them. This sounds like a great |
| has been largely superseded by Vancomycin. | | | | preventative idea, but can you see where the |
| Over the past 50 years, staph bacteria have | | | | problems lie? I don't know where we go from |
| become resistant to various antibiotics, including | | | | here, really. When you look at this situation, it |
| the commonly used penicillin-related antibiotics, | | | | seems very bleak, it is a never-ending circle, a |
| including Methicillin. These resistant bacteria are | | | | catch-22.So this brings us to the bacteria inside of |
| called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or | | | | our bodies. We have all heard over and over, so |
| MRSA."Ok, so what does all of this technical | | | | much that we ourselves have become resistant |
| terminology really mean? Antibiotic resistance of | | | | to the advice: Take all of your antibiotics, until the |
| any sort boils down to the old saying, "What | | | | bottle is gone, even if you are feeling better. I |
| doesn't kill you makes you stronger." I had it | | | | know I am guilty of not taking all of my antibiotics |
| explained to me by my Aunt Sharon, who has | | | | in the past. Are you? Probably. I don't do it |
| been an RN nearly her whole life, when my | | | | anymore though. Using the kitchen example |
| husband was sick. When you clean your house, | | | | above, you can see what an incomplete course of |
| and you use antibacterial products, Lysol, for | | | | antibiotics do to the bacteria in your body. What |
| instance, there is inevitably some bacteria left | | | | doesn't kill them, makes them stronger.Another |
| behind. For instance, if you are wiping down your | | | | huge problem in creating antibiotic resistance is |
| kitchen, it is impossible to keep every single | | | | with people going to the doctor with a virus, and |
| bacteria on your dishcloth, and off of your | | | | insisting upon a round of antibiotics. Antibiotics are |
| countertop. When you are finished, and the | | | | not going to kill a virus. They never have, and |
| kitchen looks clean, you have left behind some | | | | they never will. A virus is a completely different |
| bacteria, in the little swipe of water that is left on | | | | organism than a bacterium. Antibiotics kill bacteria, |
| the countertop, or the side of the cabinet that | | | | not virii. A virus can make you very sick, but it |
| you touched the dishcloth with as you were | | | | must run its course, and then it will leave. |
| taking the cloth back to the sink, or the bacteria | | | | Occasionally a virus can cause a secondary |
| that you just pushed to the back of the counter, | | | | bacterial infection, such as an ear infection or a |
| but did not remove. Of that bacteria, some are | | | | sinus infection, and it is at that point, when your |
| bound to have survived the Lysol. Maybe you | | | | doctor has determined that you have a bacterial |
| missed a spot, or maybe the bacteria were just | | | | infection, that antibiotics are required. I know that |
| lightly touched by the Lysol. This bacteria is now | | | | when you are sick, or your children are sick, that |
| microscopically laughing at you, saying "Ha ha! You | | | | you have the need to do what you can do to |
| missed me!" This bacteria is now a little tougher, | | | | help make yourself or your children better. But |
| because it survived Lysol, and maybe the next | | | | please, listen to your doctor, and do not insist that |
| night, when you clean your kitchen again, the | | | | they give you antibiotics. Trust your doctors |
| same thing happens, except maybe you got him | | | | advice, for the health and well-being of your |
| good with the Lysol, and he still survived it. This | | | | whole community. And doctors, please, do not let |
| bacteria can now be considered | | | | your patients bully you into giving them an |
| Lysol-resistant.Take that example and think about | | | | antibiotic when you know they do not have a |
| it. Think about washing your hands and body, | | | | bacterial infection. This is wrong, and only you can |
| using antibacterial soap. When you wash your | | | | stop this from happening.Christina Jones maintains |
| hands after using the bathroom, you grab a quick | | | | the web sites and community at and for |
| squirt of antibacterial soap, haphazardly rub it on | | | | education and support of MRSA (Methicillin |
| your hands, foam it up a little, rinse it off, and | | | | resistant Staphylococcus aureus) patients and |
| then you are finished. Most of us who have been | | | | provides resources to the community to raise |
| through and are familiar with MRSA use a lot | | | | awareness. |