MRSA And Pregnancy
What you Need to Know about MRSA and Pregnancy
MRSA and pregnancy may not seem like two things that go together, but the increase in MRSA infections outside as well as within hospital settings has made this a worry that we all need to have on our radars. So here’s what you need to know about when MRSA and pregnancy occur at the same time:
What is MRSA?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, abbreviated MRSA, is a staph-infection that is growing in prevalence. Journalists often refer to MRSA as a “superbug” because it is resistant to a number and antibiotics and has evolved to become resistant to even more.
MRSA was once confined to hospitals, but in the last two decades, MRSA has escaped and now is prevalent and increasing in the general population.
How is MRSA typically transmitted?
MRSA is typically transmitted through contact with another carrier of the MRSA virus. A shake of the hand is enough to do it. Many carriers of the MRSA virus don’t show any symptoms so they may not know they are spreading a virus to others.
Often the virus is spread in hospitals themselves where workers or visitors catch the virus in one wing and carry it to another. Using the proper protocols of hand washing can usually prevent this transmission but is often neglected by hurrying staff.
The virus also thrives in locations where people congregate like gyms and dorms. Outbreaks of staph-infection in the general population are often traced back to such locations.
What are the symptoms of MRSA?
Within the first few days of catching MRSA, the patient will notice reddish dots on the skin, which look like a series of bug bites or a rash. Within a week, these turn into boils, which break open. They are painful and unsightly but so long as they remain on the skin and are not introduced into open wounds or otherwise into the body, they are often not dangerous.
MRSA is most dangerous for those with compromised immune symptoms, such as persons suffering from AIDS. In these patients, MRSA causes severe secondary infections that can lead to death.
When MRSA and pregnancy occur simultaneously, what are the problems?
Studies have shown that MRSA doesn’t usually affect the fetus directly when it is treated before the date of birth. If the mother, however, is symptomatic at the time of birth the chances that the baby will be born with MRSA are much higher.
The more significant threat is that the mother’s health will become compromised and lead to secondary complications that affect the baby.
What treatments are there for MRSA?
Although MRSA is notorious for being resistant to many widely used antibiotics, medical professionals have developed several new antibiotics that are effective against the MRSA virus. Certain topic treatments can be used to both soothe the skin and fight MRSA directly.
If MRSA is caught while it is still only on the skin, the success rate for treatment is fairly high. If MRSA has developed beyond this point, this condition usually prolongs treatment, often requiring several re-treatments each time a new virus outbreak occurs.
Are the treatments for MRSA dangerous for a pregnant woman’s developing baby?
The initial topical antibiotic used to fight MRSA tends to be fairly safe for the baby and the woman. Unfortunately, because it is so mild, it is also not as affective. Stronger antibiotics are more dangerous both for the unborn child and for the pregnant woman whose immune system is stressed by the pregnancy. Doctors will usually only prescribe these treatments as a last resort.
If your symptoms seem to match the ones described here and you are worried that you may have contracted MRSA, you should get it treated as soon as possible. The earlier you start treatment, the better the prognosis.