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| Methicillin has been largely superseded by | | | | can you see where the problems lie?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