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Health See other Health Articles Title: MRSA Treatment: Staph Infection Prevention & Natural Treatments MRSA Treatment: Staph Infection Prevention & Natural Treatments Dr. Josh Axe About 2 percent of the population carries MRSA bacteria somewhere on the body, the same bacteria that causes over 90,000 serious staph infections in the U.S. alone every year, and is linked to serious health problems like skin abscesses, sepsis and pneumonia. (1) MRSA is a type of resistant staph bacteria, which collectively are the No. 1 cause of blood-borne bacterial infection treated in the United States each year. Annually, about 1.2 million people visit an American hospital due to having symptoms of a staph infection and seeking MRSA treatment. Since the mid 1970s, researchers have found that a growing number of people are now home to bacteria responsible for causing staph infections, but fortunately experts have been able to formulate new MRSA treatment options that can control or treat most outbreaks. The name of the bacteria responsible for causing most minor to moderate staph infections is staphylococcus, a microbe that’s now very common and lives on the skin of about 30 percent of adults and children. (2) The vast majority of staph microbes living on the surface of the skin don’t cause symptoms of an infection, however they can if they make their way into deeper layers of the body and begin to proliferate — especially if they mutate in the process and are then able to resist treatment. The biggest problem associated with staph bacteria is not that they exist, but that many strains have now have the ability to transform and defend themselves against antibiotics. In 2005 alone, MRSA infections cost the health care system approximately $9.7 billion, and sadly many patients with severe infections were not able to overcome them due to resistance. (3) Preventing MRSA from spreading in the first place is one of the most important things we should focus on, considering research suggests that 20 percent to 30 percent of all staph infections might be preventable with hygiene and control programs put into place. What Is MRSA? MRSA is short for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that contributes to infections of the skin, connective tissue, and sometimes bones, heart and blood vessels. While most staph infections are treatable with a combination of antibiotics and/or minor surgery to open up and drain inflamed abscesses, some MRSA infections are not and therefore remain a much more serious public health threat. Because MRSA is resistant to antibiotic medications, it can sometimes continue to spread throughout the body as bacteria make their way through the bloodstream and into pockets where they can quickly reproduce. It’s been found that several MRSA microbes can transform themselves (mutate) from one strain to another, further enabling their survival. This is especially dangerous when MRSA reaches vital organs like the heart and lungs or begins to affect blood flow through major vessels. Approximately 20 percent of all bloodstream infections treated in hospitals are now caused by MRSA staph bacteria. Prevention and catching blood-borne infections during their earliest stages remain the biggest concerns for experts. Findings suggest that MRSA treatment protocols are in fact working and that MRSA infection rates have been coming down in recent years — however, MRSA still remains a significant problem. There are still more deaths in the U.S. and Europe due to MRSA staph infections each year than there are due to serious viruses like HIV. Prevention and Natural MRSA Treatment Options 1. Only Take Antibiotics When Completely Necessary Antibiotic resistance is now considered to be an urgent global matter. Antibiotics should only be taken when absolutely necessary to treat an infection. If someone takes antibiotics frequently or for long periods, including taking them to treat certain staph infections, they’re then at a greater risk for developing MRSA. The elderly seem to be at the highest risk for developing MRSA. Antibiotic resistance can affect people of all ages and in all nations, however, which is why health care providers are advised to be very selective about when they prescribe antibiotics to sick patients. 2. Strengthen Your Immune System The likelihood of developing any type of infection has a lot to do with a patient’s overall immunity against microbes. Certain foods may be able to help strengthen your immune system against infections by improving gut health, preventing deficiencies and reducing allergies. These include healing foods, such as breastmilk in infants, high-antioxidant foods, raw vegetables and fruit, garlic, fresh herbs/spices, wild-caught fish, probiotic foods, and drinking plenty of water. Foods to avoid that can worsen gut health, lower immunity, and promote allergies or inflammation are packaged, processed foods, potential food allergens like conventional dairy, gluten, shrimp and peanuts, conventional dairy products, refined fats or fried foods, and added sugar. Certain supplements might also offer increased protection, including omega-3 fish oil, zinc, vitamin C, echinacea, vitamin D, and antiviral herbs for immunity like calendula, elderberry and astragalus. 3. Hygiene and Hand-Washing The Health Research Funding Organization and the CDC both state that properly using germ-killing soaps and/or ointments in health care settings could reduce cases of MRSA by about 40 percent. Practicing good cleanliness/hygiene in your home by regularly disinfecting shared surfaces and linens — in addition to hospitals, nursing homes, day cares and schools doing the same — is one of the best ways to prevent our current situation of contagious MRSA infections from worsening. (4) Tips for helping lower your risk for a staph infection include: Washing your hands often. It takes approximately 20–30 seconds to properly wash your hands using a natural antibacterial soap along with warm water. Taking this step alone whenever you leave a hospital, day care or nursing home can drastically cut your risk of MRSA or staph infection. Use cleansing products shown to remove even most MRSA and staph bacteria, such as those approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Refer to this list of EPA-registered products effective against MRSA. Wash all fabrics and linens (especially when they’re shared), plus clean and disinfect all working surfaces regularly using a natural cleaning products and detergent. Run any shared utensil, kitchen or cooking equipment through a dishwasher after use; bath after visiting a gym or health care facility; and avoid sharing personal items, such as towels or razors, that can carry bodily fluids. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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