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ethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that can cause skin infections. These infections are being seen with increasing frequency -- once limited to people with weak immune systems in hospitals, healthcare centres and nursing homes, MRSA is now affecting even healthy adults and children and recently has spread to the community.

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteria are common, and about one in three people are colonised by the bacteria. Most of those who are colonised with SA do not develop an infection and so do not have any symptoms.

Staph skin infections, including MRSA, generally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites. These can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that require surgical draining. Sometimes the bacteria remain confined to the skin. But they can also penetrate into the body, causing potentially life-threatening infections in bones, joints, surgical wounds, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs.

Early Symptoms of Staph Infection

During early stages, Staph skin infections cause a red, swollen and painful area on the skin. Often this may be mistaken for an insect bite, such as a mosquito or spider. Typical staph infection symptoms include:

• Warmth around the infected area
• Skin abscess
• Drainage of pus or other fluids from the site
• Fever

Symptoms of A Serious Staph Infection

• General ill feeling
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Chest pains
• Fever
• Chills

Symptoms of Severe Staph Infection

• Bone pain
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Malaise
• Rash
• Low blood pressure

• Abscesses – these are typified by collections of pus which are underneath the skin of the infected person. These are one of the most common of the MRSA symptoms.
• Boils – these are hair follicles that have become infected and are filled with pus. They are also very sore and can become quite large.
• Cellulitis – this is one of the more hard to diagnose MRSA symptoms. It occurs when the fat and the tissue directly underneath the skin becomes infected. It looks like small bumps which are red coloured.
• Impetigo – this is an infection of the skin which causes the skin to erupt in blisters which are pus filled. However impetigo can occur by itself and is not always recognised as one of the MRSA symptoms.
• Sty – this is an infection of the eyelid and it usually starts with a small bump that can turn yellow. As with many of the other MRSA symptoms stys can occur which do not lead to MRSA.
• Carbuncles – these are similar to abscesses but they are much bigger. They can also have more than one opening into the skin which makes them particularly nasty.

With these MRSA symptoms in mind it is important that anyone who is concerned about this illness should seek medical advice as soon as possible. If MRSA is caught fast enough a person who has contracted it should be able to receive the correct treatment. So be vigilant if you notice that you have a skin infection and make sure that you go to see your doctor if you notice anything to be worried about.

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