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Spring 2000 - Article 4

Disinfectant Update
MRSA Information

In the health care arena, especially with disinfectants, we often hear acronyms thrown around that we don't understand. One such term is MRSA which stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that is carried in the noses of 20-40% of normal, healthy people. Staph is found almost everywhere in the environment and usually goes about its business without harm to humans. However, in certain circumstances, particularly when skin is broken, Staph can cause boils and other infections. In rare instances it can also be inhaled and cause pneumonia, especially in older or immune-compromised individuals. Lastly, Staph can multiply on food, releasing a toxin that causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Hospital patients are most vulnerable to Staph infections because they often have weakened immune systems and/or surgical wounds.

Most Staph are sensitive to simple antibiotics, although overuse of common drugs has made these simple Staph a little harder to kill. In hospitals and elderly care centers, where antibiotic use is often high, there is a high prevalence of resistant Staph. When Staph become resistant to methicillin (a type of penicillin) they are given the name MRSA. MRSA behave in the same manner as ordinary Staph and do not cause more serious infections. However, MRSA infections are more difficult to treat since fewer antibiotics are suitable for treatment. For this reason, many hospitals isolate patients with MRSA and follow strict precautions to prevent its spread to others.

It is highly recommended that hospitals and nursing homes routinely clean and disinfect environmental surfaces with a disinfectant that contains the MRSA claim. All of Essential Industries' disinfectants contain the MRSA claim.