MRSA is a serious infection so there are many guidelines that can be followed to prevent, diagnose, and treat it in adults and children.
Various health organizations have come up with published guidelines. There are some natural treatment guidelines that have not been proven to be safe or effective.
Considering the seriousness of a MRSA infection that spreads, it is important to follow guidelines that have been proven to be successful and to consult with a healthcare professional. Doctors have specific guidelines for the diagnosis of this infection to identify the specific strain for the most effective treatment.
MRSA Guideline Development
There are a variety of professional organizations that develop the guidelines for the management of MRSA. These are some of them:
- Centers for Disease Control
- Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
Each country has several organizations that publish related guidelines.
MRSA Prevention Guidelines
To prevent the spread among children and adults in the Community Acquired (CA-MRSA) and in Hospital Acquired (HA-MRSA), the following guidelines are recommended:
- Hand washing
- Personal hygiene maintained
- Infected wounds covered with a dry bandage
- Clean surfaces that may come in contact with bacteria
- Prevent sharing of contaminated items
- Treat MRSA colonization
MRSA Treatment Guidelines
The guidelines for treating MRSA infections should be followed to avoid transmitting the bacteria to others and it spreading to other parts of the body. When the course of treatment includes antibiotics, the full course should be taken to avoid another infection. Here are some treatment guidelines.
- Cutaneous abscesses, simple abscesses, and boils-lance and drain
- Severe, extensive, and rapidly progressing infection-antibiotic treatment
- Outpatient treatment-oral antibiotic treatment
- Hospitalized patients, complicated infections, and traumatic wound infection-oral and or intravenous antibiotic treatment
- Minor skin infections, like impetigo in children and secondarily infected skin lesions like eczema, ulcers, or lacerations-topical antibiotic
All bacterium infections should be cultured to determine the exact stain and the most effective course of treatment. It can also reveal if there is a new strain of MRSA that is causing the infection.
Natural MRSA Treatment Guidelines
Though there are many natural treatments available for MRSA, they have not been proven in large studies to be safe. Since it can be life-threatening, it is best to seek the advice of a health care professional. Natural treatments have been successful in preventing this infection, though. One study shows that children who take antibiotics are more likely to develop it and the risk increases with the number of times that the child has had an infection. Treating illnesses and infections naturally, when safe, can prevent a future MRSA infection.
When following MRSA guidelines for treatment or prevention, it is important that the guidelines come from reputable organizations. Not following proven, effective guidelines can result in it to spread in the body and also to others. For people with a compromised immune system, an infection can become serious. The bacteria can rapidly progress into a life-threatening situation, so MRSA should be diagnosed and treated by a healthcare professional.