Disease Specialist To Answer MRSA Questions

Oct 24, 2007 @ 02:26 PM
GateHouse News Service

ROME Infectious disease specialist Waleed Albert, M.D., will answer questions about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a special lecture 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Capitol Theater, 220 W. Dominick St., Rome.

Sponsored by Rome Memorial Hospital, the education session, "Protecting Yourself Against Superbugs," will also feature representatives from the Health Department.

Dr. Albert will discuss the history of MRSA and the differences between community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) and the more common healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). People infected with CA-MRSA have a different strain of staph bacteria than typically seen in healthcare settings.

"With the recent publicity concerning confirmed CA-MRSA cases in Rome schools, we've received several requests for additional information and speakers," said Education Director Gale Barone, R.N. "Even when cases are isolated, people want to understand the risks, know how to protect themselves and know when to seek medical attention."

According to Infection Control Director LeAnna Grace, R.N., the hospital took note of its first case of CA-MRSA about four years ago; though the more common healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) has been in the local community since the mid-1980s.

Five patients with CA-MRSA were admitted to the hospital this year. CA-MRSA infections are MRSA infections in healthy people who have not been hospitalized or had a medical procedure within the past year.

CA-MRSA typically begins as skin infections. They first appear as reddened areas on the skin, or can resemble pimples that develop into skin abscesses or boils causing fever, pus, swelling or pain.

"Practicing proper hygiene measures is the best defense against Staph bacteria," Grace said. "Frequent hand-washing, laundering personal items daily, refraining from sharing personal items and keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered with bandages are the same measures that help prevent the spread of more common germs."