What is MRSA?
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, otherwise known as MRSA, is a staph infection that is extremely resistant to antibiotics. This infection can be the source of sinusitis, and when it is, the sinusitis can be extremely difficult to treat appropriately. If left untreated, however, this infection can lead to serious medical complications.
MRSA is becoming more and more common in a variety of settings, and we’re seeing an increase in clients with this problem. A sinus infection that is caused by MRSA frequently presents like any other bout of sinusitis, but does not respond to standard treatment.
Prevention is the best medicine
Indeed, the best way to treat an MRSA staph infection and sinusitis is to avoid it in the first place. If you have a healthy immune system, and don’t work in a hospital or in child care, ordinary precautions such as regular hand-washing, not sharing towels, and refraining from unnecessary bouts of antibiotics should keep you MRSA-free. However, if you are immuno-compromised, or regularly exposed to people who may have staph infections, you may want to take further precautions, such as soaking in a Clorox or Hibiclens bath three times a week, and letting your towel dry only once before laundering it in hot water.
If you think you might have MRSA sinusitis, contact us right away. In many cases, surgery is required in order to clear the infection and enlarge the openings of the sinuses. There are a few non-surgical treatments available, however, including nebulized antibiotics that work directly on the sinuses, instead of being absorbed via the digestive system like oral antibiotics. Call us today to discuss alternative treatments and care.
Frequently Asked Questions
MRSA, or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, is a type of staph infection highly resistant to antibiotics. When MRSA causes sinusitis, the infection becomes difficult to treat using standard antibiotics and can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
MRSA sinusitis often presents symptoms similar to regular sinus infections, making it hard to distinguish initially. However, unlike typical sinusitis, MRSA sinusitis does not respond to standard antibiotic treatments, signaling the presence of a resistant infection.
Prevention primarily involves maintaining good hygiene, such as regular hand-washing, not sharing towels, and avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use. For those who are immunocompromised or frequently exposed to staph infections, additional measures like Clorox or Hibiclens baths and careful towel laundering are recommended to minimize risk.
Individuals who are immunocompromised or who work in environments with increased exposure to staph infections, such as hospitals or childcare settings, are at higher risk of contracting MRSA sinus infections. These individuals may need to take extra preventive measures.
Treatment options for MRSA sinusitis include surgery to clear the infection and enlarge sinus openings, as well as non-surgical approaches like nebulized antibiotics that target the sinuses directly. Oral antibiotics are often ineffective due to the resistance of MRSA.
Surgery is often needed to physically remove resistant MRSA infections and to enlarge the sinus openings, which facilitates better drainage and healing. This approach is considered when non-surgical treatments do not effectively clear the infection.
Nebulized antibiotics deliver medication directly to the sinuses, improving effectiveness against MRSA compared to oral antibiotics that rely on digestive absorption. This method can be a valuable non-surgical treatment option for MRSA sinusitis.