What comes to your mind when you think about common elderly diseases?

Alzheimer’s.  Dementia.  Cancer.  Diabetes.  Parkinson’s.

While these are some of the major diseases associated with aging, there’s one that you might not think about: MRSA infection.  However, MRSA infection is on the rise and you or a loved one may be at risk.  In this post, I want to explore 1) What is MRSA,  2) What are the symptoms and 3) Who is at risk.  In the posts to come we will look at ways to prevent and treat MRSA.

What is MRSA?

MRSA – or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – is a bacterium that can cause infections in different parts of the body.  It was first discovered in 1961, but since that time has adapted to become resistant to many antibiotics including methicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin and oxacillin.  It is important to note that individuals can carry the bacteria without becoming infected with it.  In fact, around 30% of the entire population carries staph bacteria around in our noses.  However, MRSA becomes a problem when it manages to get inside the body, often through a cut or tear in the skin.

What are the symptoms of MRSA?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Staph infections normally start as small red bumps that resemble pimples, boils or spider bites.  However, these can quickly turn into deep, painful abscesses that may require surgical draining.  While the bacteria often remains confined to the skin, it is possible for MRSA to penetrate into bones, joints, the bloodstream, heart valves and lungs, causing life-threatening situations.

Who is at risk for MRSA?

MRSA spreads by contact, meaning that an individual could get MRSA simply by touching another person who has it on the skin.  According to the Mayo Clinic, MRSA infections are most common among individuals with weak immune systems that are living in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care centers.  Because of this, the elderly are at an increased risk compared to the general population.  In fact, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed the average age of an individual with MRSA in a hospital or healthcare facility to be 68.

Summary

MRSA infection is a very serious issue among the elderly, especially for those spending significant amounts of time in a hospital or health care facility.  In my next post, I will look at ways to prevent contraction of MRSA as well as treatment methods should you contract an infection.